UCLA’s post-game press conference was highlighted by a single poignant word from the Bruins’ veteran basketball coach.
“It was embarrassing,” Ben Howland said. “That’s all you can say about this effort today.”
UCLA lost 67-46 to USC on Saturday afternoon in the team’s worst loss to its rival school in 65 years. The Pauley Pavilion crowd of 11,108, the largest of the season, witnessed a final deficit larger than any accomplished by the Trojans in the history of the legendary arena.
The Bruins never matched the Trojans’ intensity after USC jumped out to early leads of 7-0 and 30-13.
“I have to tip my hat to USC tonight,” Howland said. “They completely dominated us from the beginning.”
UCLA seniors Michael Roll and Nikola Dragovic missed all 11 of their combined shooting attempts in the first half, leading up to just a 33 percent clip on the game for the Bruins.
On the other side of the coin, USC senior guard Dwight Lewis had his best game of the season, scoring 17 of his 24 points in the first period. Trojan sophomore forward Nikola Vucevic would take over the reigns with 17 of his 19 points coming after the break.