The UCLS Bruins and USC Trojans continued their rivalry this Saturday at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. Coming in to the game, UCLA was top of the PAC-12 with a conference record of twelve wins and five losses and an overall record of nineteen and eleven. The USC Trojans came in to the game with a record of ten and seven in the conference and twenty one and nine overall.
There was not much action in the first half at all, with the halftime score being 24-22 with a two point USC lead. USC missed four-straight free throws in the last few minutes of the game to give UCLA a late lead. After a UCLA turnover, with seconds left in the game, the ball was given to Senior Jonah Mathews on his Senior Night for the opportunity for the game winner. After a screen he drove to the left wing, shook off his defend, and nailed the three pointer to win the game with a second left for the Trojans.
Jonah Mathews scored nineteen points in the game and made five 3-pointers. Those made him the career leader in USC history with 247. He also had five rebounds and three steals. His teammate, Freshman Onyeka Okongwu had sixteen points on eight of twelve attempts and six rebounds. in the Trojan win. This was most likely his final game in the Galen Center as he is projected too get drafted to the NBA. This game made Mathews and teammate Nick Rakocevic the winningest players in USC basketball history with their eighty-eighth win.
For UCLA, Cody Riley led them with thirteen points, hitting five of his six free throw attempts. Chris Smith had twelve, but was only four of twelve shooting attempts and had six turnovers.
Both of the teams have earned byes in the upcoming PAC-12 tournament and hope for good performances in order to make the NCAA National Championship Tournament.
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