UCLA and USC basketball rivalry week part 1 game 2

The 15 to 11 ranked best games between UCLA and USC of the 21st century.

No. 15

2004: USC 78-77 OT

Desmon Farmer of USC scored nine straight field goals in overtime for his team's 78-77 triumph against their city rivals. Farmer scored a total of 28 points, 11 of which came in overtime for the Trojans. With the win, the Trojans' record rose beyond 500, while UCLA's record dropped two games below 500 for the season. This occurred during UCLA's first-year coach Ben Howland's second game against the Trojans.

The Trojans had won against UCLA for the fourth time in a row, which was their longest winning streak in 61 years. Additionally, USC won a sweep in back-to-back seasons against the Bruins for the first time since 1940–1942.

After opening conference play with a perfect 5-0 record, the Bruins suffered their tenth straight defeat in 12 games as they lost to USC in overtime.

No. 14

2005: UCLA 72-69

For the first time since 2002, the Bruins defeated the Trojans. UCLA's Dijon Thompson scored 24 points to lead the Bruins against the Trojans.

UCLA had to overcome an eighteen-point hole at halftime to end a four-game losing streak against its rival across town.

With the win, the Bruins ended a three-game losing streak against their fellow Los Angeles rivals and picked up their 11th victory of the year.

Jim Saia, the USC interim coach would not be hired on as a full-time coach at the end of the season, also coached this game for the Trojans

The Trojans suffered a heartbreaking loss as well since it snapped their four-game winning streak over UCLA, which was their longest since they defeated the Bruins 42 times in a row from 1932 to 1943.

No. 13

2006: USC 71-68

Dwayne Shackleford of USC stunned No. 15-ranked UCLA by scoring 12 points and dishing out three assists in 16 minutes of play in the second half as USC won 71-68.

Arron Afflalo scored 21 points and dished out five assists, and Jordan Farmar for the Bruins, scored 19 points that game.

With a 105-28 record at that arena, the game was UCLA's final appearance at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. From 1959 until 1965, they used the Sports Arena as their home court alongside USC. The Trojans' home games that following season were held in the university's Galen Center.

UCLA would go on to win their next 12 games before falling to Florida in the national title game, despite this being their second straight loss.

No. 12

2007: No. 3 UCLA 65-64

Darren Collison scored a career-high 17 points and Arron Afflalo scored with four seconds remaining as No. 3 ranked UCLA defeated crosstown foe USC.

The Bruins, who were 15-1 going into the game, had just lost to Oregon 68-66, which had caused them to fall out of the top spot.
In this game, UCLA scored nine points in a row late in the game, cutting the Trojans' lead to 55-49 before going scoreless for almost five minutes. In the second half, USC had two 10-point leads.

Even though UCLA would go on to lose their last two regulars season conference games, they that season, won four straight games in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Florida in the Final Four.

No. 11

2008: No. 3 UCLA 57-54

Subsequently, in the Pac-10 tournament semifinals, the No. 2 ranked Bruins defeated USC 57-54 behind the 19 points and 10 rebounds from then freshmen, Kevin Love.

Having played each other 225 times at the time, this was the first conference tournament and postseason match between the crosstown rivals.

Together with Memphis and Kentucky, UCLA became the third-ever NCAA team to win 30 or more games in three consecutive seasons as a result of the victory at that time..

UCLA would go on to defeat Stanford in the conference tournament championship game and win their first four games of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Memphis in the Final Four.