Last night, Jaime Jaquez, Jr. carried the Bruins past Washington State by leading the team in points with 23 and rebounds with 11 whille he tied Tyger Campbell for the most assists with four. It was Jaquez’s fifth double-double this season. Speaking of assists, he got an some help from Jules Bernard, who added 19 points.
After the game, head coach Mick Cronin discussed the play of the pair:
Obviously, these two guys both got it going. We were stuck in the mud a little bit, and Jules made some big shots, got us going. He got our energy level up. We got out in transition. I thought that changed the game.
After the Bruins disposed of the Cougars, Southern Cal struggled in the first half against Washington and trailed 39-36 at the break. But the Trojans outscored the Huskies 29-22 in the second half to win by four, 65-61. Boogie Ellis had 17 points and was the only Trojan to score in double figures, though Isaiah Mobley, Drew Peterson and Reese Dixon-Waters each added nine.
Wins by both UCLA and Southern Cal have set up what could potentially be an epic battle tonight in Las Vegas. Of course, each team won on their home court in the two previous matchups between these squads this season.
Last weekend, with the two seed in this week’s tournament on the line, the Bruins came up big and there is a lot at stake in tonight’s rubber match as well. The winner heads to the Pac-12 Championship game tomorrow night against whichever team prevails in the first semifinal between Arizona and Colorado.
UCLA needs to win tonight and tomorrow in order to help boost their seeding in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday, but they can’t be thinking about tomorrow until they’ve taken care of business tonight.
Listen to the Game With TMB!
TuneIn.com now has UCLA’s games listed as “premium” content. So, rather than using TuneIn, you can just listen through the official website like we have done with the small sports for a long time in order to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray call tonight’s game. Tonight’s game is on Fox Sports 1. As a result, Joe Davis, Casey Jacobsen and Kevin Burkhardt have the call on tonight’s game. If you do want to listen to Lewin and Murray, just be sure to right-click on it so that you can open up another tab and have it going while you chat in the comments below. Listen to today’s game online.
In the meantime, here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
This is your 3-seed Southern Cal Trojans vs 2-seed UCLA Bruins game thread.
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6 TO in first half derailed a few drives. Need to clean that up and continue aggressive D while not picking up dumb fouls.This should be a 12 point lead so hope they come out focused in second half and not let this get close.
UCLA is actually playing really strong. They look healthy and have been playing great defense with Myles and Clark getting more time. They’ve finished out strong and need to carry it into the tournament. I wouldn’t want to play ucla that’s for sure
Pac-12 Semifinal: How To Watch, Preview and Game Thread: Southern Cal Trojans vs. UCLA Bruins
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Hm we're starting Myles, not Cody
Looking good late in the first half!
Bad decisions in the last stretch by Juzang.
Is Juzang the first person to suffer brain damage from an ankle injury?
6 TO in first half derailed a few drives. Need to clean that up and continue aggressive D while not picking up dumb fouls.This should be a 12 point lead so hope they come out focused in second half and not let this get close.
Hopefully Juzang finds his confidence this half.
UCLA is actually playing really strong. They look healthy and have been playing great defense with Myles and Clark getting more time. They’ve finished out strong and need to carry it into the tournament. I wouldn’t want to play ucla that’s for sure
Clark has 3 fouls. Ugh!
Refs seem intent on making this a close game
Juzang looks just as injured as Jacquez was a few weeks ago. Hopefully he gets his mojo back soon.
Nice to see Myles with the bucket on the assist from Watson
Good stretch from Watson.
LOL at Stong’s celebration for the Watson shot
Just don’t let foul trouble cause defense to back off and not stay aggressive
Watson, I need you!!!
Forcing an air ball+shot clock violation out of a timeout, our defense is playing superb
AND Watson for 3!!
Refs at it again
Usc with 1 foul this half… lol
Wtf was that foul on Watson
There’s the juzang mid range jumper we need
Peterson’s go to move is a push off.
There’s something so dislikeable about petersen. Can’t quite put my finger on it
Only 2 players on the floor who can score for SC. Maybe work to deny the ball?
So pretty, Jules!
We need Myles back in
It’s crazy ucla has not made the conference tourney finals in 8 years.
OMG clock under review??? Typical PAC12 game.
Ucla wins!!!!
Go Bruins! Beat Arizona!
SC band is so annoying…
Very solid win. SC never really threatened. Every mini-run was answered.