USC
UCLA
Trojans Fall To UCLA
January 11, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2001
Postgame Audio Interviews
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jason Kapono scored 20 points and Earl Watson added 17 as UCLA defeated No. 19 Southern California 80-75 Thursday night in a highly charged game that knocked the Trojans from a share of first place in the Pac-10.
The Bruins (8-4) won their fourth straight and maintained a share of first place in the conference with No. 1 Stanford at 3-0.
It was also the 99th career victory for coach Steve Lavin, who was taunted by USC fans shouting Rick Pitino's name. UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis has spoken twice to Pitino in the last month, although Dalis said the conversations didn't involve Lavin's job.
The Trojans (12-3, 2-1) had their three-game winning streak snapped and lost their eighth straight at Pauley Pavilion, where they last won in 1993.
USC's Sam Clancy tied his career-high with 31 points. He grabbed a key rebound - his 13th - in the closing seconds and passed to David Bluthenthal, who had a 3-point attempt blocked that would've tied the game.
It was the first time in 39 years that the teams met when USC was ranked and UCLA wasn't. On Feb. 2, 1962, the unranked Bruins upset No. 5 USC 73-59 at the Sports Arena.
After a helter-skelter first half, in which only UCLA held a double-digit lead once, the Bruins found some breathing room at the start of the second half.
After Clancy scored to get the Trojans within five, the Bruins outscored USC 18-6 to take a 64-45 lead with 14 minutes remaining. Watson had six points, including a steal and layup, even as he picked up his fourth foul and Kapono earned two quick fouls.
A 3-pointer by Kapono provided UCLA's largest lead, 71-52, with 11:03 to play. But the Bruins' shooting touch disappeared, and the Trojans worked their way back.
USC used a 17-3 spurt to close within five with 4:03 left. Clancy scored 11 points, including three dunks, while Gadzuric tossed up an airball and another miss at UCLA's end.
Despite back-to-back turnovers, the Trojans closed to 74-70 on a free throw by Brandon Granville.
After Watson was fouled and hit two free throws, Bluthenthal hit a 3-pointer in front of USC's bench to make it 76-73 with 32 seconds left. He then stole the ball, but Brian Scalabrine's pass to Granville went out of bounds.
Gadzuric scored inside for a 78-73 lead before Clancy's basket again drew the Trojans within three with 32 seconds left. Clancy rebounded a miss by Scalabrine and fed Bluthenthal, who had his shot blocked.
Although the Trojans controlled the boards, 43-30, they committed 28 turnovers in front of a rowdy crowd of 12,109.
The game got off to a rocky start with five fouls in the first 1:21. Centers Gadzuric and Scalabrine were hit with double technicals for shoving before the teams lined up to shoot free throws.
That was Gadzuric's second foul and he went to the bench until 8:12 when he returned and picked up his third foul 32 seconds later. His absence in the middle allowed USC to control the boards, 24-14, in the first half.
Watson was called for an intentional foul on Bluthenthal, who responded by taunting Watson. That earned Bluthenthal a technical.
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
