USC takes second shot at UCLA
LOS ANGELES – For the first time in years, there’s more than just pride on the line when No. 2 UCLA hosts No. 19 Southern California today.
The top spot in the Pac-10 is up for grabs, with the Bruins (20-2, 9-2) clinging to a one-game lead over the improved Trojans and Washington State, both tied at 8-3.
“It’s a game that we need,” said UCLA’s Arron Afflalo, tied with USC’s Nick Young as the Pac-10’s second-leading scorers with 17-point averages.
Also spicing up the crosstown rivalry is USC’s presence in the rankings, something the Trojans (18-6) haven’t experienced in several years.
“This region of the country can handle two top national-level programs,” second-year USC coach Tim Floyd said Tuesday. “We’re growing as a program. They are there and established themselves with last year’s national championship game. We’ll have to be the ones that make it a game of importance nationally.”
The Trojans bring a three-game winning streak into Pauley Pavilion, where the Bruins have won 17 in a row. The teams split the series last season, with each team winning at home.
“Anytime you can beat UCLA it helps you,” Floyd said.
The Trojans almost did it last month before Afflalo hit a 15-jumper with 4 seconds left to give UCLA a 65-64 win at USC. Afflalo was held to two points in the first half because of the tough defense of USC freshman Daniel Hackett.
“We were terrific that day defensively,” Floyd said. “Sometimes you play harder at home versus the road. I don’t know whether we can duplicate that kind of defensive intensity on the road. That will be the key for us over there.”
Last time, USC had success sealing off the interior and forcing UCLA to shoot from outside.
“We shouldn’t have a problem scoring,” UCLA point guard Darren Collison said. “Anytime you got a guy who can jump over people’s backs like Luc (Richard Mbah a Moute) can, it definitely makes the scoring easy for us.”
If Afflalo had missed his last-second shot, the situation would be reversed, with USC in first place and the Bruins playing catch-up.