Tuesday night was a tough outing for the USC men’s basketball team as they fell 81-62 to their crosstown rivals, UCLA, in Westwood. This defeat drops the Trojans to an 18-10 record overall and 7-10 in Big Ten play.
Key Takeaways from the Game:
First Half Struggles: Offense Goes Cold
USC started with a promising lead at 16-13, but the offense hit a wall soon after. Over the remaining 12 minutes of the first half, the Trojans managed just 13 more points, heading into halftime trailing 38-29-a deficit they couldn't overcome.
Second Half Challenges: Defensive Breakdown
While the Trojans found some offensive rhythm in the second half, their defense couldn't hold up. UCLA poured in 43 points in the final 20 minutes, with Donovan Dent leading the charge, scoring 30 points against USC.
A Lopsided Rivalry
The rivalry has been one-sided under head coach Eric Musselman, with USC now 0-3 against UCLA during his tenure. The Bruins, despite being a solid team, haven’t been dominant in the Big Ten, adding pressure on both sides of the rivalry.
For USC fans, beating UCLA is a big deal. Andy Enfield, Musselman's predecessor, managed to keep the fans on his side by consistently outplaying UCLA, despite limited success elsewhere.
If Musselman wants to win over the Trojan faithful, he’ll need to find a way to turn the tide against the Bruins.
Bright Spot: Baker-Mazara Shines
Amid the disappointment, Chad Baker-Mazara provided a silver lining for USC. Returning from a knee injury, he put up an impressive 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds in just his second game back. However, the support was lacking, as no other Trojan scored more than ten points.
Looking Ahead
USC's path doesn’t get any easier, as they prepare to host a strong Nebraska team, currently ranked No. 12.
The game is set for Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
The Trojans will need to regroup quickly to face this formidable challenge.