Two frosh superior to one: USC tops UCLA

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jan 20, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- USC's two freshmen were better than UCLA's one.

Rookie Davon Jefferson scored a career-high 25 points, and the more heralded O.J. Mayo added 16 as the Trojans upset the fourth- ranked Bruins 72-63 on Saturday, ending UCLA's nine-game winning streak.

"My mom told me she had a dream -- we won and I played well," Jefferson said. "I didn't know the game was over 'til the game was over. That's how crazy this was."

Josh Shipp led the Bruins with 21 points, and freshman Kevin Love had 18 points and 12 rebounds, his ninth double-double in 18 games.

The Trojans won for just the third time in 13 games in Westwood.

"We were way too emotional," said coach Ben Howland, who fell to 5-4 against USC. "We were so caught up, and our emotions took over. We made some bad decisions. I can't remember us ever being like that in the last few years."

USC's emotions were pure joy in front of 12,714 hostile fans. Mayo tossed the ball as high as the overhead scoreboard and jumped on teammate Daniel Hackett at the buzzer.

"It was a total team effort," Hackett said. "It feels good to come and a get a win in what they call 'The Cathedral.'"

Mayo and Love briefly embraced after the first of what could be just two meetings this season between two of the country's best freshmen. Both are expected to leave school early for the NBA draft.

"I told him he had a great game, and I'd see him at the Galen Center," said Mayo, referring to the Feb. 17 crosstown rematch.

UCLA (16-2, 4-1 Pac-10) trailed early in the second half, went on a 20-7 run to take a 57-51 lead, then got outscored 21-6 over the final 6:18.

Jefferson scored 11 points in USC's final push, including its last eight. Hackett had six, and Mayo had a dunk.

"We shared the ball," said USC coach Tim Floyd, 2-3 against UCLA. "Jefferson was terrific. Defensively, we played exceptional."

Floyd borrowed from his old NBA playbook, throwing different defensive schemes at the Bruins, including a triangle-and-2 that is part zone and part man-to-man.

"They outplayed us," Howland said. "They're a team that will be in the NCAA tournament."

The Bruins went scoreless over the final 2 minutes, done in by missed shots and turnovers.

The Trojans (11-6, 2-3) came in with no seniors and less experience, but they lead the Pac-10 in field-goal percentage defense and held the Bruins to 33.3 percent. USC shot 61 percent.

Washington 83, Oregon St. 74

SEATTLE -- Jon Brockman scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as he collected his conference-leading 12th double-double of the season to lead Washington.

Matt Bryan-Amaning and Quincy Pondexter added 12 points apiece for the Huskies (11-7, 2-3), who won their second straight. Calvin Hampton led Oregon State (6-12, 0-6) with 16.