UCLA basketball holds on to snap losing streak to USC

Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Isaiah Mobley #3 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Reese Dixon-Waters #21 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans passes over Myles Johnson #15 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins shoots over Isaiah Mobley #3 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Isaiah Mobley #3 of the USC Trojans controls the ball against Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the USC Trojans in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Jules Bernard #1 of the UCLA Bruins shoots over Chevez Goodwin #1 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Isaiah Mobley #3 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Isaiah Mobley #3 of the USC Trojans fights for the ball against Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against USC Trojans in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Head coach Andy Enfield of the USC Trojans reacts against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Joshua Morgan #24 of the USC Trojans slam dunks against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Isaiah Mobley #3 of the USC Trojans controls the ball against Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Isaiah Mobley #3 of the USC Trojans rebounds over Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins slam dunks against the USC Trojans in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after a slam dunk against the USC Trojans in the first half of a NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

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LOS ANGELES — When USC forward Isaiah Mobley completed a three-point play with 1:22 to play, the sold-out crowd at Pauley Pavilion fell eerily silent.

UCLA had led by 13 in the second half, but the ghosts of a five-game losing streak against the Trojans seemed to be arriving in the hallowed arena. The Bruins had missed 10 straight shots and appeared close to wasting another late possession.

But senior Cody Riley, honored prior to the regular-season finale, improbably turned around to hit a fade-away jumper with three seconds left in the shot clock that gave UCLA room to breathe.

And though the free-throw shooting gave the UCLA faithful more reason to sweat, Riley’s jumper was just enough for the 17th-ranked Bruins to take a 75-68 win over No. 16 USC.

“To be honest with you, I didn’t like the way we finished the game,” said UCLA head coach Mick Cronin, who earned his first win in the crosstown rivalry. “It’s great, but there’s no banner going up.”

Jaime Jaquez, who led all scorers with 27, hugged teammate Jules Bernard as the crowd chanted “U-C-L-A” in celebration. The victory clinched the two-seed in the Pac-12 Tournament for the Bruins (23-6, 15-5 in Pac-12) while dropping the Trojans (25-6, 14-6) to third.

“This definitely meant a lot to end the regular season on a good note against a team that we in the last few games haven’t had success against,” said Bernard, who scored 19 in potentially his last game at Pauley.

UCLA came out like the team hungry for a long-awaited rivalry win. After both teams hit their first four shots, the Bruins blanked the Trojans for the next five minutes. UCLA’s full-court press hurried USC and resulted in eight first-half turnovers.

When Tyger Campbell passed up ahead to an open Jaylen Clark for a two-handed transition dunk, USC head coach Andy Enfield called timeout to try stem the tide of an 8-0 UCLA run. But Clark flexed at the Trojans before heading to his bench.

“We have to do a better job [on turnovers] in Las Vegas,” said USC head coach Andy Enfield, whose team lost consecutive games for the first time this season.

Despite the Bruins’ energy and focus, USC stayed within six heading into halftime thanks to four made 3-pointers in the first half.

The Trojans’ hot shooting from behind the arc continued into the second half. Boogie Ellis connected through contact to convert a four-point play to tie the game at 47, though a Jaquez layup quickly retook the lead for the Bruins. Then a step-back 3 by Drew Peterson got USC within one with 12:06 to play.

But Jaquez responded with six straight for the Bruins, then found Jules Bernard in the corner for a 3-pointer to put the Bruins comfortably ahead again.

You could tell Jaquez was in USC’s head during that mini-run. The UCLA guard had pump-faked his way into numerous free throws. So when he threatened to pull up from mid-range, USC forward Chevez Goodwin didn’t bite, daring Jaquez to shoot, which he happily did for two points.

“He delivered for us,” Cronin said.

Jaquez made 10 of 16 shots while adding four assists after scoring a career-high 30 on Monday against Washington.

“I’ve just been feeling really good as far as my body. My ankles are feeling really good right now,” Jaquez said. “It’s time to start up into another gear right now.”

The Trojans had no one but themselves to blame for seeing their winning streak against UCLA come to an end. USC had 15 turnovers that led to 21 UCLA points, compared to just one giveaway by the Bruins.

“That’s the whole difference in the game,” Cronin said.

“We shouldn’t turn it over 15 times, but we also gotta get back,” added Mobley, who led USC with 20 points. “That’s an effort thing.”

Still, USC had its chances. The Bruins were hesitant to shoot late in the game as they tried to run out the clock, and it led to bad offense for them and extra life for the Trojans.

But turnovers reared their head again as guard Max Agbonkpolo stepped out of bounds before shooting a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left, giving UCLA the chance to ice out the win and exorcise some demons.

“There was no way we were going to let happen here on our home court against USC,” Jaquez said. “So I’m just happy we got the win.”

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on March 6, 2022

UCLA basketball holds on to snap losing streak to USC

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