On Saturday night, the UCLA men’s basketball team showed why it has become a lock for the NCAA tournament and its crosstown rival USC is all but out of contention.
Led by a dominant 25-point, seven-assist performance from star guard Donovan Dent, the Bruins dismantled the Trojans 89-68 at Galen Center, pushing both teams further down the paths they have been on the past two weeks. Dent’s 25 points tied for his second most this season.
“He just took the game over,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said of Dent.
With the win, UCLA secured the No. 6 seed in the Big Ten tournament and a corresponding bye through the first two rounds.
A few weeks ago, both teams were sitting in the bubble. UCLA (21-10, 13-7) has been hot, pulling down wins against ranked opponents Illinois and Nebraska, while USC (18-13, 7-13 Big Ten) went on a seven-game slide, including losses to the Huskers and Illini and two more to the Bruins.
Now, both teams head to the Big Ten tournament with opposite momentum and very different stakes, though any number of wins for UCLA can’t hurt its seeding come Selection Sunday.
While the Bruins dominated offensively, shooting 58% from the field and 53% from three-point range, Cronin said the key to UCLA’s success in the upcoming postseason will be the team’s resurgent defensive effort. When asked what the Bruins could do if they continue their strong defensive effort, Cronin responded: “We can keep winning games.”
“We can score,” Cronin added. “So, we’ll find out.”
Though the game was just across town, it was the Bruins’ first win away from Westwood since late January. UCLA is 17-1 at home and 4-9 in road and neutral contests. With the Big Ten tournament at a neutral Chicago site and the NCAA tournament also outside of Los Angeles, the Bruins will need to take the momentum from its win Saturday to find success.
“To get this win on the road was big for us,” Bruin forward Tyler Bilodeau said,” so it gives us all the confidence. We just gotta keep going.”
UCLA guard Donovan Dent drives to the basket in front of USC guard Kam Woods during the second half Saturday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Early on, Saturday’s contest looked like it would be a much closer affair. USC, without top scorer Chad Baker-Mazara, who was dismissed on March 1, tied the score six times before UCLA took control with a 13-1 run midway through the first half.
Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau was especially important during UCLA’s early run, scoring all 16 of his points on 70% shooting from the field in the first half. He added eight rebounds.
“Tyler’s gonna get a chance to play in the NBA,” Cronin said. “He’s one of the best shooters in the country, and he works unbelievably hard.”
The Bruins dominated inside and on the perimeter, outrebounding USC 37-26 and shooting a combined 53% from three-point range. UCLA’s bread and butter on Saturday, though, were the many contested mid-range jump shots, which were made at an impressive clip, especially by Dent.
UCLA enjoyed strong fan support on the road, with the group Men of Westwood paying for buses that transported 1,000 fans to Galen Center.
Though it is Dent’s first season with the Bruins, he has enjoyed the crosstown rivalry. During UCLA’s two matchups with USC, he has combined for 55 points — two of his three best scoring performances this season — and shot above 60% from the field.
“It’s the rivalry,” Dent said when asked why he has played so well against USC. “Everyone loves rivalry games. You just come out and play your best.”
1. USC forward Jacob Cofie, top, tries to block a shot by UCLA guard Donovan Dent in the second half Saturday at Galen Center. 2. USC guard Alijah Arenas scores over UCLA guards Trent Perry, left, and Brandon Williams. 3. Dent celebrates after scoring in the second half. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Bruins shot a dominant 58% from the field, well outdoing the solid 43% for the Trojans. Dent made eight of 11 shots in the second half.
While the Bruins struggled to contain USC star freshman Alijah Arenas, who ended the night with 20 points, he wasn’t given much help as Ezra Ausar, Kam Woods and Jordan Marsh — some of the Trojans other top scoring options — got into foul trouble with at least three apiece and had to limit their aggressiveness. Arenas finished with three fouls, while Ausar fouled out, he was USC’s second-leading scorer with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Besides Bilodeau and Dent, Eric Dailey Jr. scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Eric Freeny scored 10 and Trent Perry added eight points and four assists. Guard Skyy Clark, who missed 10 conference games while recovering from a hamstring injury, struggled offensively, missing all five shots from the field.
As a redshirt freshman, Freeny has had to battle for playing time this season, going multiple stretches with limited minutes, including one minute of action during last week’s loss to Minnesota. On Saturday, he played 18 while contributing significantly to UCLA’s early success.
“It’s just a feeling you can’t really explain,” Freeny said of the Bruins’ mindset when they are succeeding. “That’s why I love it. I love this sport. I love basketball.”
