Welcome to Staples Center for the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament. UCLA is taking on USC for the third time this season, looking for its third win.
We’ll be posting updates here at every media timeout.
Final “”mdash; UCLA defeats USC 55-40 in the first round to advance to tomorrow’s quarterfinal round where No. 4 seed Arizona awaits. Guard Lazeric Jones led the Bruins in scoring with 15 points.
UCLA split games with Arizona in the regular season with each team winning at home.
3:14 “”mdash; It’s safe for UCLA to start planning for Arizona tomorrow at 2:30 as the Bruins now lead 52-39.
Guard Lazeric Jones leads UCLA with 15 points.
7:53 “”mdash; The Bruins are maintaining their double-digit lead and now lead it 46-33. UCLA winning the rebounding battle 34 to 28.
It wouldn’t be the crosstown rivalry without a little pushing and shoving and Travis Wear got tangled up with some Trojans before the last timeout. Order has been restored.
11:55 “”mdash; UCLA now up 39-28 and appear to be running away with this one. Travis Wear is now up to 12 points.
As for Joshua Smith, he’s back on the bench after picking up three fouls in 45 seconds, one of them an offensive foul.
15:08 “”mdash; UCLA has opened up a 33-25 lead and the Bruins appear to be out of the funk they found themselves in to start the game.
UCLA center Joshua Smith checked into the game at the last dead ball to the delight of the Bruin fans in attendance. Smith playing in the second half confirms that UCLA coach Ben Howland benched him for disciplinary reasons.
Halftime “”mdash; UCLA closes the half on a 9-0 run to lead it 22-21 at the half. Still no sign of center Joshua Smith.
The Bruins are led by point guard Lazeric Jones and forward Travis Wear who each have eight point. Byron Wesley leads USC with nine.
3:38 “”mdash; Still no Smith, still no offense as USC leads it 21-13 with the half winding down. UCLA looks flat on offense, very reminiscent of last year’s opening round loss to Oregon.
6:35 “”mdash; USC has gone on a bit of a run and now leads 15-9. Everyone here at Staples Center is wondering what’s happened to UCLA center Joshua Smith. The big man hasn’t entered the game while both Anthony Stover and Brendan Lane have.
He looks healthy and is dressed in uniform, no word from UCLA officials on what’s keeping him out.
11:53 “”mdash; Tied up at seven now. UCLA still not getting much going on offense as each team now has three turnovers. UCLA coach Ben Howland inserted Norman Powell and Anthony Stover much earlier than he traditionally has and Powell had a nice block.
UCLA is 2-for-10 from the field while USC is 3-for-13.
15:47 “”mdash; Pretty sloppy game here early on as USC leads it 5-4. We didn’t have a bucket until 17:11 when UCLA’s Travis Wear put in a pair of free throws.
Both teams look a little lost as there have been three turnovers between the two. Expect things to settle down soon.