No matter it takes.
Having rolled off one win after one other the final two weeks, UCLA discovered one other approach to prevail Monday evening.
Their main scorer sidelined by an ankle damage, their offense having gone chilly, their protection reeling, their potential to make free throws having failed them, the Bruins pulled out a taut 82-76 victory over USC because of some heroics from Sebastian Mack.
The reserve guard’s deep three-pointer with 1 minute 8 seconds left turned again the Trojans to present UCLA its fourth consecutive victory after the Bruins completed the sport scoring 9 of the ultimate 13 factors.
With Tyler Bilodeau being held out due to the ankle he turned towards Washington, the Bruins (15-6 total, 6-4 Massive Ten) acquired step-up performances from Eric Dailey Jr. (16 factors), Aday Mara (12 factors, 11 rebounds) and Dylan Andrews (12 factors, six assists).
However Mack was the most important protagonist, rising for the three-pointer that gave his group a four-point lead. After USC’s Chibuzo Agbo missed a three-pointer, Mara grabbed the rebound and the Trojans then fouled Mack, who made two free throws to present the Bruins some separation.
It was a unique story for the Trojans, who missed 5 free throws within the final five-plus minutes.
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1. USC coach Eric Musselman gestures for his group to place their palms up on protection. 2. UCLA’s Aday Mara dunks over USC’s Clark Slajchert. 3. UCLA coach Mick Cronin cheers on his group towards USC. 4. UCLA heart Aday Mara, proper, regains possession of the ball after an tried steal by USC ahead Rashaun Agee. 5. UCLA guard Kobe Johnson celebrates with teammates after a foul name towards USC. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Instances)
A protracted UCLA chilly spell that included 5 missed free throws helped USC wipe out a 12-point deficit, the Trojans having an opportunity to take the lead when guard Saint Thomas stepped to the free throw line together with his group down by a degree with 1:37 left. He missed each makes an attempt.
Reserve ahead Rashaun Agee led USC (12-8, 4-5) with 21 factors.
UCLA regarded prefer it is likely to be on the verge of a runaway early within the second half because of its large man. Mara blocked back-to-back photographs by Thomas and took a lob from Andrews on the opposite finish of the court docket to nudge the Bruins right into a 48-37 lead.
There have been extra spectacular Mara strikes to make, the 7-footer backing down a defender earlier than rising for a troublesome turnaround 15-foot jumper.
UCLA guard Sebastian Mack dribbles although a double group of USC guards Desmond Claude (1) and Clark Slajchert within the first half.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
USC followers didn’t cover their disdain for Trojan-turned-Bruin ahead Kobe Johnson. They booed him throughout participant introductions. They booed him when he grabbed rebounds. They booed him when he left the sport and when he reentered. They booed him most vociferously when he fouled out with 1:54 left.
The one time they cheered him? When he was known as for touring within the first half.
In the meantime, Mara was having a troublesome go of issues early in his first begin of the season. His first 4 publish touches resulted in a missed leap hook, a turnover when the ball was stripped, a dunk that was worn out by a charging name on teammate Skyy Clark and a missed shot from point-blank vary.
Mara lastly broke by with a dunk and added one other dunk off a lob from Andrews however was not almost as dominant as he had been in his earlier two video games with intensive taking part in time. A part of it needed to do with the referees permitting the Trojans to be extremely bodily towards Mara with out calling fouls.
UCLA’s 42-37 halftime lead got here courtesy of blistering taking pictures — the Bruins shot 68.2% and made all 9 free throws however allowed USC to stay shut as a result of the Trojans made seven of 17 three-pointers (41.2%).
The Trojans couldn’t stick with it.
