Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins controls the ball against the USC Trojans defense in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
USC Trojans bench reacts after a basket by Reese Dixon-Waters #2 of the USC Trojans against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Former UCLA Bruin Bill Walton showing off his CFP Championship teams TCU and Georgia eye black stickers as the UCLA Bruins defeated the USC Trojans 60-58 during a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Malik Thomas #1 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Boogie Ellis #5 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans reacts after a basket against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kobe Johnson #0 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins loses the ball against Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Boogie Ellis #5 of the USC Trojans recovers the loose ball against Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Malik Thomas #1 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Dixon-Waters #2 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Joshua Morgan #24 of the USC Trojans along with teammate Kijani Wright #33 of the USC Trojans looks on from the bench against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins blocks the shot by Malik Thomas #1 of the USC Trojans in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Boogie Ellis #5 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the USC Trojans in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kobe Johnson #0 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Dixon-Waters #2 of the USC Trojans with a halloween tattoo against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
David Singleton #34 of the UCLA Bruins scrambles for the loose ball against the USC Trojans in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins blocks the shot by Malik Thomas #1 of the USC Trojans in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates as the UCLA Bruins defeated the USC Trojans 60-58 during a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Boogie Ellis #5 of the USC Trojans misses on the last shot of the game against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins as the UCLA Bruins defeated the USC Trojans 60-58 during a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Boogie Ellis #5 of the USC Trojans misses on the last shot of the game against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins as the UCLA Bruins defeated the USC Trojans 60-58 during a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins hits the go ahead shot against the USC Trojans in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after a basket against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans rebounds against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after hitting the the go ahead shot against the USC Trojans in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins hits the go ahead shot against the USC Trojans in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after hitting the the go ahead shot against the USC Trojans in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Andy Enfield of the USC Trojans looks on against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins shoots agains the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins shoots against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Andy Enfield of the USC Trojans reacts against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Will McClendon #4 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Kijani Wright #33 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Russell Westbrook looks on in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Will McClendon #4 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after a foul against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Will McClendon #4 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Kijani Wright #33 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after a slam dunks against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans fights for the rebound against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
UCLA Bruins react after a basket against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins shoots against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jaylen Clark #0 of the UCLA Bruins shoots against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after a slam dunks against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans rebounds against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins slam dunks against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kobe Johnson #0 of the USC Trojans scrambles for the loose ball against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins fights for the loose ball against Kobe Johnson #0 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Drew Peterson #13 of the USC Trojans rebounds against Adem Bona #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
UCLA Bruins fans cheer against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Boogie Ellis #5 of the USC Trojans controls the ball against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Former UCLA Bruin Bill Walton in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the USC Trojans in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Malik Thomas #1 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 5, 2023. UCLA Bruins won 60-58. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — USC got as good of a final look as it could have hoped. Guard Boogie Ellis drove right, pulled up along the baseline and fired. But the shot hit the front of the iron, and Ellis watched, seated on the Pauley Pavilion court, as UCLA celebrated a 60-58 win.
It’s the final moment, the one that will play on the highlight reel of the game. But it’s not the moment when USC lost. That moment came far earlier, in the first half, when the Trojans went 5:52 without a basket.
“We need more offensive consistency,” Enfield said.
It’s been one of the stories of USC’s season. The Trojans have proven, once again, to be very good on defense. But which version of the USC shooters varies from night to night, and even half to half.
USC was good enough on defense to upset the 10th-ranked Bruins. At least in the second half. The Trojans held UCLA to 16 points in the second half on 5 for 22 shooting. USC trapped Jaime Jaquez and forced the other Bruins to find good shots. They struggled to do so and frequently went deep into the shot clock.
This allowed USC to erase an 18-point halftime deficit, with a free throw from Harrison Hornery tying the game with 1:23 to go. USC even took a lead on a Reese Dixon-Waters hook shot with 28.1 left, the junior guard’s seventh make on seven attempts.
But if USC had not lost its offense for long stretches of the first half, it would have never been in a position to have to claw its way back.
“We played very poorly in the first half. Very soft, offensively and defensively. It was embarrassing,” Enfield said. “It’s frustrating when veteran guys are inconsistent. But we’re still a team that’s developing and improving.”
Enfield was more frustrated with some of the last-minute lapses, including Ellis’ failing to box out David Singleton in the corner and allowing him to grab the offensive rebound that led to Jaylen Clark’s go-ahead 3. Or Ellis’ moving screen that gave the Bruins the ball right back on the next possession.
These are valid points. But what hurt USC more was Ellis, the Trojans’ leading scorer, making just 4 of 11 attempts from the floor and missing all three 3-point attempts. And fellow senior Drew Peterson attempting just eight shots.
The two combined for only 19 points. Ellis typically can be counted on for 16.1 per night.
This isn’t to point fingers at two players. As a whole, USC opened the game 2 for 10 from the floor with three early turnovers. UCLA went on a 13-0 run as the Trojans went without a single point for the better part of six minutes.
It was an early hole that the Trojans could not dig their way out of, even as their defense confounded the Bruins. When USC held UCLA without a point for eight minutes, USC managed just 11 in that stretch, turning a 16-point lead to five.
All told, USC shot 47.2% from the floor. That should be a winning number, especially when holding the opponent to 34.5%. But struggles in rebounding and a 3 for 16 mark from 3-point range were albatrosses around the Trojans.
There were always going to be growing pains with this team, with so many freshmen and sophomores asked to contribute. But 16 games in to an 11-5 campaign, and the same offensive issues that plagued USC early in the year continue to arise.
“I think we’re just a younger team than we were last year and we’re figuring everything out,” Dixon-Waters said. “We’re getting there and I’m happy with the progress.”
