USC
17-7, 8-3
UCLA
16-7, 7-4
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
USC Falls to UCLA in Westwood, 82-79
February 03, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Features
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Thomas Welsh scored five of his 21 points in the final 51 seconds, giving UCLA an 82-79 victory over crosstown rival USC on Saturday and snapping the Trojans' season-high six-game winning streak.
Welsh hit a 3-pointer to put UCLA ahead for good at 80-77 and calmly sank two free throws with 11 seconds to go on his 22nd birthday that helped the Bruins (16-7, 7-4 Pac-12) win their third in a row.
Aaron Holiday led the Bruins with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and nine assists. They improved to 12-2 at home.
The Trojans (17-7, 8-3) were led by Elijah Stewart with 20 points.
After Welsh's go-ahead 3-pointer, Stewart got fouled and made both, leaving USC trailing 80-79.
Shaqquan Aaron missed a jumper for the Trojans and Welsh got fouled while grabbing the rebound. The 7-foot senior made both, allowing UCLA to end the game on a 22-10 run.
"It was a really high-intensity game," USC coach Andy Enfield said. "Both teams played great, especially on the offensive end. It really just came down to that last shot at the end."
Jordan McLaughlin and Jordan Usher each missed 3-pointers for USC in the last four seconds. McLaughlin finished with five points on 2-of-8 shooting, well off his 12.6-point average.
"I just really hate losing," McLaughlin said. "The Pac-12 is a tough conference. You have to take care of your home court and try to steal some games on the road."
Nick Rakocevic scored 10 of USC's first 14 points to open the second half, extending the Trojans' lead to 55-53. The Bruins answered with a dunk by G.G. Goloman and a 3-pointer from Holiday for a 58-55 lead.
USC outscored UCLA 14-2 to go back in front 69-60. Stewart had five points and Chimezie Metu four in the spurt.
The Bruins took a 71-69 lead with 11 straight points that included two 3-pointers by Holiday, who converted two free throws after Rakocevic got two fouls, including a technical for a tie-up involving Alex Olesinski.
USC built an 11-point lead midway through the first half before UCLA erased most of it with a 14-2 run. Chris Smith came off the bench to score four points and Holiday sandwiched 3-pointers around a free throw by Smith that put the Bruins ahead 30-29.
The game was tied twice more before USC got four straight points by Stewart to lead 41-40 at halftime.
BIG PICTURE
USC: The Trojans were 7-1 in January for their most wins in the month since going 7-2 in 1982. They are second in the league standings behind Arizona. "We just have to really watch film and stay consistent about the things that we do, and we should be OK," McLaughlin said.
BENNIE'S BACK
USC's Bennie Boatwright returned after missing two straight games because of a sore right foot. He finished with two points on 0-of-5 shooting and missed all three of his 3-point attempts in nine minutes. He averages 15.1 points.
UP NEXT
USC: At No. 25 Arizona State on Thursday in the second of three straight road games. The Trojans have lost five in a row in Tempe by an average of 4.4 points.
