As March Madness approaches, the spotlight is firmly on the intense rivalry between USC and UCLA men's basketball. With the Trojans teetering on the edge of the NCAA Tournament bubble and the Bruins (19-9, 11-6 Big Ten) just inside after a crucial ranked win, it seemed that only one of these crosstown rivals might make it to the big dance.
Following USC’s disappointing 81-62 loss on Tuesday, it looks like the Trojans need a miracle run in the Big Ten Tournament or a major upset against No. 12 Nebraska (24-4, 13-4) this Saturday to keep their hopes alive.
USC (18-10, 7-10) entered the game reeling from two heartbreaking losses. They squandered a 7-point lead in the final minute against Oregon (10-17, 3-13) and suffered a 36-point defeat to No.
10 Illinois (22-6, 13-4). These setbacks made the matchup with UCLA even more critical.
Head Coach Eric Musselman highlighted the urgency postgame, saying, “We need to figure out how to win a game before worrying about anything of that magnitude,” referring to their tournament aspirations.
The Trojans struggled from the start, with key players like freshman guard Alijah Arenas, sophomore forward Jacob Cofie, and graduate guard Kam Woods combining for 0-for-7 shooting in the first half. The team managed only 31% from the field overall.
Arenas, usually a standout, scored just 10 points, marking his second-lowest total since late January. Despite flashes of brilliance seen earlier in the month against Indiana and Penn State, nerves seemed to get the better of him, leading to a career-high five turnovers, four in the first half alone.
Coach Musselman addressed Arenas’ challenges, stating, “We just can’t turn the ball over. It’s been a learning curve for [Arenas]… He’s an incredible talent with an awesome ceiling and incredible future, but in a game like tonight, he’s learning.”
With Arenas struggling, graduate guard Chad Baker-Mazara took charge offensively, hitting four 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes and finishing with 25 points on 8-for-16 shooting, along with two blocks. However, Baker-Mazara suffered a non-contact leg injury early in the second half, which limited his play despite his return.
“Baker-Mazara is a potent offensive player that can turn your lights out,” noted UCLA Head Coach Mick Cronin.
On the Bruins' side, senior forward Tyler Bilodeau had a slow start with only 5 points in the first half. But senior guard Donovan Dent rose to the occasion, delivering a 30-point performance, including a halftime buzzer-beater, crucial for the Bruins’ victory.
USC attempted to stay in the game during the second half, but UCLA's defensive prowess, highlighted by five steals-four from sophomore guard Trent Perry-and a decisive 26-7 run with eight minutes left, sealed the Trojans' fate.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for USC. They face a tough challenge against Nebraska at Galen Center on Saturday at 1 p.m. To keep any postseason dreams alive, they'll need to beat Washington (14-14, 6-11) and seek redemption in a rematch with UCLA, both at home.