UCLA
14-2,5-0Pac-12
USC
11-5,3-2Pac-12
No. 10 UCLA Overcomes Crosstown Rival USC, 60-58
January 05, 2023 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES โย Jaylen Clarkย knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 14.8 seconds remaining as the No. 10-ranked UCLA men's basketball team outlasted crosstown rival USC, 60-58, on Thursday night before a sellout crowd in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
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Clark's 3-point basket took place nearly 15 seconds after USC had erased an 18-point halftime deficit. The Trojans (11-5, 3-2 Pac-12) led 58-56 with 31 seconds to play after Reese Dixon-Waters broke a 56-56 tie with a one-handed jump shot paint.
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"The only thing I had to say was I told Jaylen, 'It took guts,'" said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "Proud of him. It took guts to take the shot, took a lot of guts. Make or miss, you've got to do it. It's the right play."
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After calling timeout, UCLA (14-2, 5-0 Pac-12) advanced down the court and Clark missed a 3-point attempt. David Singleton grabbed the offensive rebound and swung the ball back out to Clark, who drilled the game-winning shot with 15 seconds to play.
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Clark drew an offensive foul by the Trojans on their next possession. Singleton was fouled, made one of two free throws, and the Bruins thwarted USC's final opportunity to score in the game's last seven seconds.
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Clark paced the Bruins (14-2, 5-0 Pac-12) with 15 points as the Bruins improved to 9-0 in home contests this season.ย Jaime Jaquez Jr.ย andย David Singletonย scored 12 apiece.ย Adem Bonaย contributed eight points and totaled a career-high 10 rebounds.
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Dixon-Waters scored a game-high 16 points off the bench, connecting on 7 of 7 shots. Boogie Ellis added 10 points for USC.
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In the first half on Thursday night, the Bruins scored 13 straight points to open a 18-4 cushion against the Trojans with 11:48 to play before halftime. Fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Singleton, the Bruins made seven of nine 3-pointers during the opening 20 minutes. USC had twice cut its deficit to eight points, but the Bruins recovered on both occasions and extended their advantage to 44-26 at the break.
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The Trojans chipped away at the lead in the second half, using runs of 11-0 and 17-3 to make the score 53-51 with 4:07 remaining.
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Jaquez Jr., who scored 10 of UCLA's 16 second-half points, drained a 3-pointer on the game's next possession to supply some breathing room. USC responded by scoring the next seven points, including the Dixon-Waters jumper. Clark, who missed his first shot of the subsequent possession, was given a second chance following an offensive rebound by Singleton.
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The Bruins posted a 36-30 rebounding advantage, including a 16-6 difference offensively.
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UCLA returns to action against Utah on Thursday, Jan. 12. Game time in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom is 8 p.m. (PT). The Bruins' game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.
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