LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ethan Anderson had career highs of five 3-pointers and 19 points, and Southern California defeated No. 21 UCLA 66-48 on Saturday night to tie the short-handed Bruins atop the Pac-12.
Tahj Eaddy added 16 points for the Trojans (15-3, 9-2), who have won four in a row and 10 of 11 since the program was shut down due to COVID-19 issues in December.
The Mobley brothers helped USC control the boards, 40-33. Freshman big man Evan Mobley, the league's leading rebounder, had nine rebounds and older brother Isaiah grabbed 11.
Johnny Juzang led the Bruins (13-4, 9-2) with 13 points and 13 rebounds. He was their only double-digit scorer on a team that has four starters averaging double figures.
UCLA's frontline took a hit before the game when Cody Riley (right ankle) and Jalen Hill (personal reasons) were declared out. Riley got hurt in practice Friday. Between them, they average 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Anderson took over during a dominant stretch in the second half. He scored eight straight points, hitting two 3s. Max Agbonkpolo missed the second of two free throws and Chevez Goodwin snagged the offensive board, passing to Anderson for his fifth 3-pointer of the game.
Anderson's acrobatic shot under the basket and three straight free throws by Agbonkpolo extended USC's lead to 19 points — its largest of the game.
The Bruins were limited to 34% shooting, missing open looks at times only to watch one Mobley brother or the other rip down a rebound. The Mobleys were disruptors inside, too, altering shots. Evan finished with four blocks.
The Trojans took control with runs of 10-0 and 9-0 in the first half to lead 30-20 at the break. The Bruins’ points were their fewest in the first half this season.
UCLA closed within one only to get outscored 13-4 to end the half. Noah Baumann and Eaddy combined to hit three consecutive 3-pointers for the Trojans.
The crosstown rivalry was muted by no fans allowed, just cardboard cutouts at Galen Center.
It was another bitter defeat at USC for the Bruins. They dropped both meetings last season, including a 54-52 heartbreaker on a 3-pointer by Jonah Mathews that ended UCLA’s seven-game winning streak. That game on March 7 proved to be the last for both teams, with the coronavirus pandemic forcing an early end to the season.
BIG PICTURE
UCLA: Four of the Bruins' seven scheduled games remaining are against teams with losing records.
USC: The Trojans have been resilient through the pandemic and are poised to crack the Top 25 for the first time this season.
UP NEXT
UCLA: Visits Washington State on Thursday, a team the Bruins beat by 30 points last month.
USC: Plays at Washington on Thursday. The Trojans won by 27 points in the first meeting.
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