03/08/26 12:52:00
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03/07 22:30 CST Dent erupts for 25 as UCLA crushes reeling USC 89-68 at Galen
Center
Dent erupts for 25 as UCLA crushes reeling USC 89-68 at Galen Center
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Donovan Dent scored 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting and
UCLA routed reeling Southern California 89-68 for the second time in 11 days
Saturday to end the regular season with its highest-ever point total at Galen
Center.
Dent and Eric Dailey Jr. combined to score UCLA's first 15 points of the second
half. Dent then ran off five in a row, extending the Bruins' lead to 72-47.
UCLA shot 59% in the second half. Dent also had seven assists.
Dailey finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. Tyler Bilodeau had 16 points
and eight rebounds. UCLA's previous single-game point total at Galen Center was
83.
The Trojans lost 81-62 at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 28, when Dent scored 30
points. The Bruins (21-10, 13-7 Big Ten) have won eight of the last 10 games in
the crosstown rivalry and three in a row on the road. It was their first win by
20 or more points at USC since 1974.
USC coach Eric Musselman has yet to beat UCLA in two seasons.
The Trojans (18-13, 7-13) kept it close early before the Bruins closed the
first half with a 24-9 spurt, scoring 13 in a row, to lead 45-30 at halftime.
USC lost its seventh in a row to close the regular season after opening with an
8-0 record.
Alijah Arenas scored 20 points for the Trojans. Ezra Ausar added 12 points and
11 rebounds.
They were without their top two scorers. Rodney Rice was limited to six games
before a season-ending right shoulder injury. Chad Baker-Mazara, who had 25
points and eight rebounds at UCLA, parted ways with the team suddenly a week
ago.
The Bruins have won four of five heading into the Big Ten Tournament. Their
resume includes home wins over ranked Purdue, Illinois and Nebraska to go with
blowout losses at Michigan and Michigan State, the league's top two teams. The
Bruins also lost to ranked Arizona, Gonzaga and Iowa.
Up next
UCLA and USC travel to Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament starting Tuesday.
___
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