News Summary
In a commanding display, the UCLA men’s basketball team triumphed over their rivals, USC, with a final score of 90-63 at Pauley Pavilion. Star player Eric Dailey Jr. led the charge, scoring a career-high 25 points, while the team showcased depth with five players scoring in double digits. The victory marks UCLA’s largest margin over USC since 2014, finishing the season with a strong 22-9 record. Despite USC’s struggles, highlighted by 20 turnovers, Bruins prepared for the upcoming Big Ten Tournament with confidence following a stellar performance.
Los Angeles Celebrates UCLA’s Stunning Win Against USC
In an electrifying showdown that had fans buzzing, the UCLA men’s basketball team delivered an impressive performance, crushing their rivals USC with a score of 90-63 in their regular-season finale. This exciting clash took place at the iconic Pauley Pavilion and was witnessed by a lively crowd of 12,018 fans.
Breaking Records and Setting the Stage
UCLA’s star player for the night was Eric Dailey Jr., who was nothing short of spectacular, scoring a career-high 25 points with an incredible shooting percentage of 10-of-13 from the field. It was a night to remember for UCLA, as five players broke into double figures, showcasing the team’s depth and talent. Alongside Dailey Jr., Skyy Clark contributed 17 points, while Aday Mara, Tyler Bilodeau, and Sebastian Mack rounded out the high scorers with 14, 12, and 10 points respectively.
This remarkable victory marks UCLA’s largest margin of victory over USC since January 5, 2014, when the Bruins triumphed by a whopping 34 points. With this win, UCLA finished the season with an impressive 22-9 overall record and 13-7 in Big Ten play, setting a strong foundation as they head into the postseason.
A Masterclass in Defense
Head Coach Mick Cronin could hardly contain his excitement over the team’s focus and unyielding defense that forced USC into committing 20 turnovers. These turnovers proved costly for USC, as UCLA capitalized, scoring 37 points off those mistakes. UCLA’s shooting was nothing short of phenomenal, with a season-high overall shooting percentage of nearly 62%. The Bruins made 37 of 60 field goal attempts and impressed with over 60% shooting both halves of the game.
From beyond the arc, UCLA was equally effective, hitting 10-for-22 from three-point range. Dailey’s sharp shooting led the way with 4-of-5 from long distance, keeping the crowd on their feet.
The teamwork on display was highlighted by a remarkable 28 assists in total, with Dylan Andrews dishing out seven assists and Skyy Clark following closely with six. Such collaboration was crucial in building a commanding lead.
USC Struggles to Keep Up
Despite USC’s efforts, they could not maintain pace with the Bruins and collapsed under the pressure. Wesley Yates III was the top performer for the Trojans, scoring 21 points, while Desmond Claude managed 15 points. USC briefly narrowed the lead to 28-23 in the first half, but they never regained their footing and fell behind by as much as 36 points late in the game.
UCLA initiated a stunning 13-0 run at the start of the second half, ballooning their advantage to 52-30 and leaving little room for doubt. The Trojans concluded their season with a disheartening 15-16 overall record and 7-13 in Big Ten play, closing out with six consecutive losses on the road.
Looking Forward
As the dust settles on this memorable match, UCLA is set to face a new challenge as they gear up for the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on March 14, 2025. They will take on the victor of a game between Wisconsin and either Minnesota or Northwestern. Meanwhile, the USC program will look to regroup under the guidance of first-year head coach Eric Musselman, who faces increasing pressure to improve the team ahead of next season.
With the stage set for an exciting tournament and much anticipation in the air, fans can’t wait to see what’s next for UCLA—and whether they can continue their winning momentum as they chase their championship dreams!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
UCLA Students Frustrated by Women’s Basketball Wristband Chaos
UCLA Bruins Fall Short Against USC Trojans
Additional Resources
- 247Sports: USC Mens Basketball Crushed at UCLA
- Covers: USC vs UCLA Predictions
- Fox Sports: Watch USC vs UCLA
- Wikipedia: UCLA Bruins Men’s Basketball
- USC Trojans: Season Closing Loss to UCLA
