UCLA Runs LA… Still – The Bruins Get The Season Sweep With A Win Over USC
The regular season is now over as the UCLA Bruins (19-12, 11-7) defeat the USC Trojans (11-19, 3-15) 85-75 at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins take the season sweep, a fifth straight win over the Trojans and commanding 75-20 lead in the BMW Crosstown Cup. If you did not know, UCLA runs LA… still.
The one unfortunate thing about this game is that USC made it closer than UCLA would have liked. The Bruins were up by as much as 18 points in the first half, with the Trojans clawing back to within 7. Though UCLA had command of this game, once again they let the little things haunt them, specifically defense.
UCLA Bruins
The Bruins should be very glad they shot 49.2% from the field because they could not stop the hot hands of USC’s Nikola Jovanovic and Elijah Stewart who ended with 16 and 14 points respectively. As a team, the Trojans shot 55% (26-of-47) from the field with an even better percentage from behind the 3-point line of 58% (11-of-19).
UCLA had contributed to the 3-point party (which saved them more than once) as they shot 56% behind Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton who combined for 8-of-11 from downtown. They ended with 23 and 13 points, respectively, with Hamilton adding five assists.
It was an even bigger game for the front court as Kevon Looney reeled in another double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Tony Parker added to the festivities with 22 points of his own. He also had 7 rebounds, six of which were offensive.
As for the man of the night, Norman Powell, he started the contest off slow but ended with 12 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds. He even had one final throw down in his final game at Pauley Pavilion.
If it's a #UCLA game, there's gotta be a Norman Powell dunk! GIF: http://t.co/FqEEOT9jSU #KaPOWell #SCtop10
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 5, 2015
Once again, thank you Norman Powell!
The Bruins now wait for the rest of the Pac-12 to settle and decide the final seeding in the conference tournament, but as of now, the Bruins have locked up fourth place and a first round bye. The tournament starts next week at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Stay with Go Joe Bruin as we bring you all the latest information on UCLA’s post-season journey.