The UCLA Bruins defeated the USC Trojans 83-76 Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion in a contest carrying significant implications for both teams’ NCAA tournament hopes, according to ESPN.
Both teams entered the game with 18-9 records, but with differing conference results. UCLA improved to 10-6 in Huge Ten play, while USC fell to 7-9. The game, broadcast on FS1, was a 7.5-point victory for the Bruins, covering the spread according to BetMGM odds. USC was a +7.5 underdog, and the over/under of 150.5 points was as well surpassed.
The win for UCLA came after an upset victory over Illinois on Saturday, while USC suffered a loss to Oregon. UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau led the Bruins’ offense, a key strength for the team. USC’s backcourt duo of Chad Baker-Mazara and Alijah Arenas attempted to spark the Trojans, but turnovers and offensive inefficiency proved costly.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, UCLA entered the game as heavy favorites with odds of -325 to win outright, compared to USC’s +260. ESPN analytics gave UCLA a 75 percent chance of winning.
The Trojans are currently on the NCAA Tournament bubble, and the outcome of this game could be a deciding factor in whether they make the tournament, according to SI.com. UCLA, having secured a key win against Illinois, further solidified their position.
USC head coach Eric Musselman’s team had seen their tournament prospects diminish with the loss to Oregon, making the rivalry game all the more crucial. UCLA coach Mick Cronin’s team responded to recent blowout losses with the win over Illinois and followed it up with the victory over USC.
Donovan Dent’s game-winning layup in overtime against Illinois on Saturday was a highlight for the Bruins, while the Trojans’ loss to Oregon was their worst of the season.
