USC Beats UCLA 80-67, Clinches 1st Big Ten Title

In Los Angeles on Saturday night, JuJu Watkins shone brightly by scoring 30 points, leading the No. 4 Southern California to secure an 80-67 victory over the second-ranked UCLA. This victory not only marked their dominance but also sealed Southern California’s first Big Ten regular-season title during their debut in the league.

This much-anticipated clash between crosstown rivals was played in front of a sold-out crowd at Pauley Pavilion. Both teams entered the game tied for the first position, but the Trojans (26-2, 17-1 Big Ten) came out on top, achieving a season sweep over the Bruins (27-2, 16-2). Notably, UCLA’s only losses were against USC, including a previous 71-60 defeat at the Galen Center just two weeks prior.

Watkins was particularly potent during the first half, amassing 23 points. Her efforts included a personal six-point streak that sent USC into halftime with a 46-32 lead. In the fourth quarter, with a decisive touch, Watkins assisted on consecutive 3-pointers, extending USC’s lead to a commanding 19 points.

For USC, Kiki Iriafen contributed significantly with 17 points and nine rebounds. Meanwhile, on the UCLA side, Kiki Rice stood out with 16 points, though Lauren Betts was somewhat contained with just 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The game was a star-studded affair with notable personalities like singer John Legend, comedian Leslie Jones, and Hall of Famers Reggie Miller, Cheryl Miller, and Ann Meyers Drysdale in attendance.

Analyzing the impact of the game, USC demonstrated resilience by maintaining composure in a challenging atmosphere, particularly when UCLA narrowed the gap to four points in the third quarter. The Trojans responded strongly, scoring nine consecutive points, thereby entering the fourth quarter with a 13-point advantage.

UCLA had previously been placed as the overall top seed for the NCAA Tournament in an early selection preview, but the consecutive defeats to USC might affect that standing.

A crucial moment in the game came early when UCLA missed their initial eight shots and suffered two turnovers, setting a challenging tone as they failed to secure any lead throughout.

Defensively, USC’s strategy proved fruitful by forcing 16 turnovers from UCLA, translating those into 25 points to their favor.

Looking ahead, both teams are set to receive a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament and will gear up for their respective first games on Friday in Indianapolis.