Jalen Hill dunks against Southern Cal last season at the Galen Center. (Photo Credit: Percy Anderson/uclabruins.com)
This evening, the UCLA Bruins will travel twelve miles from Westwood to the South Central LA to face the Southern Cal Trojans. This game is a battle for first place in the Pac-12. To be sure, the Bruins have torn through their first ten games of conference play and won nine of those games, but the Trojans have gone 8-2 during the same stretch to set up tonight’s battle.
While UCLA’s lone conference loss came against Stanford in overtime, Southern Cal has lost games to Colorado and Oregon State.
The key to tonight’s game for the Bruins will be defense. If the Bruins can hold the Trojans to 62 points or less, UCLA will win. On the other hand, if the Bruins let Southern Cal get to 70 first, UCLA fans may not be happy with the final result.
Starting Five
The Trojans are led by freshman forward Evan Mobley, who is averaging 16.8 points per game. The younger half of the Mobley brothers is Southern Cal’s highest percentage shooter, making 58% of his shots, but it would seem that they are higher percentage shots that he takes as Evan is the second worst three-point shooter of the Trojans’ starting five. The younger Mobley also leads the team with an average of 9.0 rebounds per game. He also leads the team in blocks with 49 and is second on the team in steals with 15, just one behind his brother Isaiah.
There are two other starters averaging in double figures. Senior guard Tahj Eaddy is second with an average of 12.6 ppg while junior guard Drew Peterson is averaging 10.2 ppg. Peterson leads the team with 57 assists on the year while Eaddy is Southern Cal’s biggest three-point threat. Eaddy is a 45.2% three-point shooter and he leads the team in both three-point attempts and three-point baskets.
Sophomore forward Isaiah Mobley is Evan’s older brother. Isaiah is averaging 9.5 ppg. He leads the team in steals and is second to his brother in blocks with 20. Senior guard Isaiah White is only contributing 8.0 ppg but he actually has a higher three-point percentage than Eddy at 47.3%, but he’s also taken fewer than half as many shots than Eddy.
Look for Chavez Goodman and Ethan Anderson as two of the first guys off the bench for Enfield. If UCLA can get either of the Mobley brothers in some foul trouble, Goodman will be Andy Enfield’s go-to guy, even though Goodman hasn’t been too productive.
Listen to the Game Here on TMB!
The TuneIn player won’t embed here on Substack, but you can open another tab to listen. Today’s game is on ESPN with Dave Pasch and national treasure Bill Walton calling the game. If you would prefer to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray call today’s game instead you can listen to today’s game online.
Join your fellow Bruin fans discussing today’s game below.
This is your UCLA Bruins at Southern Cal Trojans game thread.
Radio/Audio: AM 570 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray Satellite Radio: Sirius XM Ch. 84 (UCLA feed) And, of course, here in The Mighty Bruin Game Thread!
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I don’t get to watch tonight, but looks like I won’t miss much. So far Campbell and juzang offensive no shows on the stats... hope they can turn it around and make the game close. Kind of tough when one of your biggest games is without a starter and key rotational piece. Wonder if hill is going to quit early since he’s getting worse and already declared
One problem I'm having with this site, guys, is that I've had to force-quit it more than once not just tonight, but during other games as well. I try to post a comment and my browser freezes. While I see the advantage for you guys on my inability to post LOL I was wondering if anyone else experiences this freeze.
I haven't had that problem, baller. I personally love your input, so I hope that gets fixed. Maybe email one or all of the mods and they can run it by the site tech people?
What sucks is that I've (we've) looked forward to this game all week; with our normal roster, no doubt that we win this game, although close as usual cuz that's how we roll with no killer instinct. Now, it's almost what 's the point...
I read that Hill and Riley are out? Anyone know why?
Oh man, that would be really really bad.
UCLA is screwed
Sure would be nice to have a network that has pregame show for our game to explain this. But no, let's cover a 5 and 11 Kentucky team instead.
Of course, BSPN has 6 minutes of Duke Vitale calling an 11 loss SEC loser remaining at our tipoff time.
WTF? No Hill or Riley?
On BSPN2...Riley out with an ankle. Hill out for "personal reasons". smdh
$c straight into the paint on the first 2 possessions.
Bruins in zine D.
Man tI think they already have 4 offensive rebounds
Nwuba out and Etienne in
Etinne has checked in. Smart to burn his redshirt? Although I guess everyone gets extra yr of eligibility so it doesn’t really matter
Can he play some games and still redshirt?
Crazy that he was in high school like 6 weeks ago
Another off reb for them and we can't buy a bucket.
Zone d
Etienne will be a ball player.
That was a really smooth little jump hook. Looked super comfortable with the ball. Nice boxout on a couple boards so far, too.
Yep. Needs some strength. Runs well. I hope he isn’t blowing a year of eligibility.
They’re killing us on the boards...
Man, some beautiful shots of the So Cal scenery. Gotta love seeing snow on the joshua trees.
Yeah I love Joshua Tree.
Those Mobleys are killing us. Need to get some fouls...
Can't believe it's the SUC game that we have to play with less players
Three chances and Jaime does it.
Big Red is right. $c is killing us in the paint and they should go inside on every possession. LOL every time they clank a 3. Idiots.
C'mon announcers, call the game!
Here's a link to the StatBroadcast, since the above link goes to a past game. I apologize in advance for the color; they chose the home team -_- https://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=325530
What are we shooting like 30?
33% to their 36%
Well hopefully that’ll turn around.
Jaquez gotta break outta his funk; he looks jittery out there
Jeez Louise!
this game is pissing me off already. why is it even a contest w/ usc these days
Well they are 8-2
On the strength of their one-and-done; don't expect this next year
UCLA shooting 33%, *$c at 36%, mostly because they are shooting 3-14 from 3 because they are morons
Jaquez gotta make that layup, and Etienne gotta get that rebound!
I don’t get to watch tonight, but looks like I won’t miss much. So far Campbell and juzang offensive no shows on the stats... hope they can turn it around and make the game close. Kind of tough when one of your biggest games is without a starter and key rotational piece. Wonder if hill is going to quit early since he’s getting worse and already declared
Sad that I was more concerned with Riley's absence than Hill's...
More sensible than sad. Of course we all hope that whatever Riley is going through works out for him.
Yeah “personal” reasons are never good...
Ball not falling for both Juzang and Jaquez
Can’t buy a basket
OMG!
missing layups
Juzang needs to stop shooting... I’ve been up and down but he’s so inconsistent. I’m already ready for him to leave
I like him! He needs to stop thinking and trust his shot tonight; he keep shorting it
$c getting away with all sorts of fouls under the basket
That was a shot clock violation.
Down 30-20 at half
Bill needs to stop pimping the refs fer chrissakes
Rather that than pimping Tommy Trojan!
Yeah...good point...
was that the shot clock that expired with 1.7 sec left?
Yeah. No idea why we didn't get the ball and that time left.
Ya that’s weird. Shot clock violation is a side out of bounds play, so 1.7 is a lot of time to make a play
Did I miss us getting the ball back with 1.7 to go?
No. Only the SPTRs missed it.
At least they correctly disallowed their basket.
One problem I'm having with this site, guys, is that I've had to force-quit it more than once not just tonight, but during other games as well. I try to post a comment and my browser freezes. While I see the advantage for you guys on my inability to post LOL I was wondering if anyone else experiences this freeze.
I haven't had that problem, baller. I personally love your input, so I hope that gets fixed. Maybe email one or all of the mods and they can run it by the site tech people?
I'll let Joe know; thanks, Gregg!
I’m on an iPad and haven’t had any issues.
Where is Riley? We're being destroyed on the boards.
Hurt his ankle during practice this week; sitting out game, sadly.
Thank you, Bruinballer, I hope it is not that serious.
LOL anyone else find it funny that UA is banning itself from post season with a 13-6 record (7-6)
Typical utter bullshit associated with the UA program; situation normal
At the half, they have 24 boards to our 15, so there's that...
They've 12 points in the paint to our six (hello, Etienne!)
Only 2 free throws apiece (we missed both, they made one) so not a factor
They could be shooting 80% if they went inside every possession, but $c is not known for smarts.
Did the Bruins forget how to shoot?
Well, F this...it's Saturday night and we're totally outmanned in this game. I'm getting a beer.
There is a logic in there. Somewhere.
What sucks is that I've (we've) looked forward to this game all week; with our normal roster, no doubt that we win this game, although close as usual cuz that's how we roll with no killer instinct. Now, it's almost what 's the point...
Nice layup by Jules
omg...great passing to miss the 6 inch layup
We seem so tentative inside tonight. Take it to Mobley and get seem fouls!
Right. There is no leadership or initiative on offense tonight.
No real inside presence on offense. JJJ has been ineffective. Too soon to expect much out of Etienne and Nwuba. Bruins need to create turnovers.
This whole no fan thing is weird.
Yes, but in a fortunate twist for $c, it's the official highest crowd IQ ever recorded at Galen.
Lolololol
We’re gonna need some threes to have a chance tonight.
Bill, chew on SC!
Yeah, Bill's gotta get off USC's nuts... it's annoying
Jaquez and one!!
Jaquez with some authority!! Need more of that, boys!!