UCLA and USC basketball rivalry week part 1 game 2

Let's now take a look at the No. 10 to No. 6 ranked best games between UCLA and USC of the 21st century.

No. 10

2009: No. 10 UCLA 64-60

Highlights: The Bruins led 19–8 at the start of the game. The Trojans then outscored UCLA 23–14 but still trailed 33–31 at the midway point. USC tied the score twice but was unable to take the lead.
In the last 4 and a half minutes, USC offense stalled at times and lost a six-point advantage to lose by four points..

Leading Scorers: Darren Collison had 18 points and six assists for UCLA and DeMar DeRozan had 15 points for the Trojans.

Significance of game: This game included many players who would go on to play in the NBA in Nikola Vucevic (Chicago Bulls), DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors), Taj Gibson (Chicago Bulls) , Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia 76ers), and Darren Collison (New Orleans Pelicans).

No. 9

2010: USC 68-64

Highlights: With little under nine minutes remaining in the game, USC led 49-47 following a basket by UCLA, but the Trojans responded with seven unanswered points to take a commanding lead. USC had led by three at the start of the half as well. This was the first time USC defeated UCLA in the Galen Center, which opened four years earlier in 2006, and this win was the three straight victory for the Trojans against UCLA.

Leading Scorers: Michael Roll had 21 points and seven rebounds for UCLA and Dwight Lewis 23 points and two steals for the Trojans.

Significance of game: USC defeated UCLA 68-64 to win the season series.
The Trojans triumphed over UCLA in both of their regular-season meetings for the first time since 2004 and just the sixth time in the previous fifty years.

No. 8

2013: USC 75-71 OT

Highlights: In overtime, USC overcame UCLA 75-71 to snap a four-game losing streak against the Trojans' local foe. With 30 seconds remaining in regulation, Jordan Adams made a jump shot to tie the game at 65 and send the game into overtime. Despite trailing by 15 points early in the second half, they battled from behind but the Bruin's effort fell short in overtime.. The Bruins made 2 of their 19 3-point attempts and they were outnumbered, 44–36 by the Trojans in this game.

Leading Scorers: Jio Fontan and Aaron Fuller each scored 15 points for the Trojans and Shabazz Muhammad scored 22 points for UCLA.

Significance of game: USC overcame UCLA's strong second half effort to win 75-71 in overtime to snap a four-game losing streak against the Trojans' crosstown rival. Bob Cantu, the Trojans' interim coach, improved to 2-3 with the win but did not become the full time head coach at the end of the season. At halftime of this game, Reggie Miller had his No. 31 jersey retired.

No. 7

2017: No. 3 UCLA 76-74

Highlights: USC, who had never took the lead and were behind by 14 points at the end of the first half, missed two field goal attempts in the closing minute being down by three points.
The Trojans defense stepped up as UCLA's scoring average was held 15 points below it's best in the country scoring average.

Leading Scorers: Jordan McLaughlin was USC's leading scorer with 18 points and six assists. UCLA's Isaac Hamilton had 22 points for the Bruins.

Significance of game: UCLA won for the tenth time in a row, it was their 29th victory of the season, and they advance in the conference tournament to have a semifinal meeting with No. 7 Arizona. The Bruins would later make it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament that year.

No. 6

2018: UCLA 82-79

Highlights: With 51 seconds remaining, senior Thomas Welsh of UCLA made a 3-pointer to commemorate his birthday, helping the Bruins defeat the Trojans 82-79. Midway through the first half, USC pulled away by 11 points, but a 14-2 surge by UCLA erased most of that lead. The Bruins would, however, lead 30 to 29.
After the game was tied twice, USC led 41–40 at the half after scoring four points in a row. The Trojans had a strong start to the first half, but the Bruins went on a 22-10 run to win the game.

Leading Scorers: Aaron Holiday was UCLA's leading scorer with 23 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Elijah Stewart lead the Trojans in this game with 20 points.

Significance of game: The Trojans had their best January record since finishing 7-2 in 1982 with a 7-1 record; however, they dropped their opening game of February to the Bruins.