The USC Trojans evened up the regular season series with their crosstown rival, UCLA Bruins, with a 62-56 win on the road at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night.
With their second road win this season and first since Dec. 19 at Alabama State, the Trojans were the grittier team.
Boogie Ellis was on a mission, scoring a game-high 24 points. He had the hot hands from the start, and UCLA didn't have an answer for him all game.
Isaiah Collier and Kobe Johnson were the other two Trojans in double digits with 11 and 10 points.
BEAT. THE. BRUINS ✔️#FightOn | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/I3M6QzqWhw
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 25, 2024
Ellis scored 18 points in the first half. He was 6-for-10 from the field, including 3-of-5 from behind the three.
Deep triple from @BoogieEllis
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 25, 2024
He's 3-of-5 from the field and has 8 points early.
: ESPN
: https://t.co/cGFArRkDBb pic.twitter.com/4QZrhjm2NV
The Trojans and Bruins went into halftime tied at 34, but the Trojans were in control in the second half with big plays like this one from Vincent Iwuchukwu.
Biiiig block by Vince!
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 25, 2024
: ESPN
: https://t.co/cGFArRkDBb pic.twitter.com/hsK25wI2BF
Johnson had a big second half, scoring seven of his 10 points down the stretch.
.@iamkobejohnson gets the steal on one end and slam on the other!
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 25, 2024
: ESPN
: https://t.co/cGFArRk5LD pic.twitter.com/sLarrq9F1Q
The win against the Bruins doesn't do much for the Trojans and the Pac-12 standings. USC is still looking up at everyone except Oregon State.
However, they could have dashed UCLA's hopes of an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
Hopefully, this road win helps the Trojans as they hit the road again next week, with Washington State on Thursday and Washington on Saturday.
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