Throughout the game, USC’s Nick Young was tugging on his
jersey and staring blankly up into the rafters hoping to get
something right. Gabe Pruitt’s body language said it all in
the Trojans’ loss to the Bruins on Wednesday night. The
Trojans’ talented guards were distraught. Frustrated. Tamed.
Both recorded season-low performances in USC’s 21-point loss.
“Those two guys are outstanding players,” UCLA coach
Ben Howland said. “And that’s why this is so gratifying
and exciting. We really played well. “I think that was the
best team defense we’ve played all year.” Young, who is
the Trojans’ leading scorer, was held to just eight points,
shot a paltry 3-for-12 from the field, and was benched for the
majority of the second half. This was the same Young who dropped 32
points in their win over Washington State. But then again, this was
the same Young who was held to two points last time at Pauley
Pavilion. Pruitt, who was on the 2004 all-Pac-10 Freshman Team,
never got off as UCLA’s Arron Afflalo was attached to
Pruitt’s hip. Pruitt went 1-for-9 and had four points.
“As you’ve seen in the past, we’ve come together
in spurts and we’ve let up as a team,” Afflalo said.
“Defensively one guy might have been playing hard, trying to
stop his man ““ less help. But tonight, it seemed to be
complete.” Credit UCLA’s defense and most of all
freshman forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who blanketed Young all
game. “He’s a good player and we watched a lot of
tape,” said Mbah a Moute, who had 10 points, seven rebounds,
two steals, and two blocks. “We did a great job getting up on
the screens and switching up. It was a collective effort. “I
knew he was going to try to get me off the dribble. So I stayed low
and tried to level him up.” After the game, USC coach Tim
Floyd spoke of the defensive effort that UCLA had and credited Mbah
a Moute for his defense against Young. “I think their help
defense was a little better,” Floyd said. “The kid they
had on (Young) was a great match-up because he has great feet. He
had a real purpose to defend him. I thought they did a great job
hedging screens and we didn’t do a good job
responding.” For Afflalo, not having to stave off a
second-half rally by their opponents was a relief.
“That’s huge,” he said. “It would’ve
been the third time in a row against Washington State and
Washington in the high teens, and they were able to come back and
close within one and win. To be an elite team you can’t let
teams get back in. Good teams and great teams, they get up on an
opponent and they put them away.”
HOLLINS HOLLERING: Senior Ryan Hollins had a
season-high nine points and snagged four rebounds off the bench in
the win. Hollins, who has played in just 11 games, five of which he
started, has been plagued with nagging injuries all season. Yet,
against the Trojans he was an effective force defensively.
“It definitely feels good playing big minutes tonight,”
he said. “With Lorenzo (Mata) out we needed someone to step
up. “Being a senior this is my last go around. I don’t
have (anything left) so I just tried to assert myself.”
DRIBBLERS: UCLA shot a season-high from the
free-throw line making 18 of 21 attempts. UCLA forward Ryan Wright
made four of his six attempts after making just 3 of 13 from the
charity stripe. … According to published reports, West Virginia
senior center Kevin Pittsnogle said his wife is eight months
pregnant and is expecting their first child by the end of the
month. If his wife goes into labor this Saturday against the
Bruins, he will leave and fly back to be with her. … Arizona
dismissed shooting guard Chris Rodgers from the team. Rogers
started 13 games this season and was noted for his defense.