Trojans Defeat Rival Bruins At Home, 63-52

Nikola Vucevic scored 20 points to lead the USC Trojans to a 63-52 victory over the UCLA Bruins in Pac-10 Conference action.

Alex Stepheson added a double-double of 13 points and 16 rebounds for USC (10-6, 2-1 Pac-10), while Jio Fontan tallied 10 points.

Reeves Nelson registered 14 points and grabbed eight caroms for UCLA (9-6, 1-2), while Jerime Anderson posted 11 points off the bench. Tyler Honeycutt overcame seven turnovers by chipping in 10 points, and pulling down nine rebounds.

The Bruins shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the first half and went into the break with a slim 30-28 lead.

The Trojans returned the favor in the second stanza, as they shot 52.0 percent from the floor, en route to the 11-point win.

The Trojans posted 20 points off 17 UCLA turnovers, while the Bruins tallied just four points off 11 USC miscues.

UCLA Vs. USC: Game Preview & Probable Lineups

The USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins continue their rivalry tonight at Galen Center, each in search of a second conference win. USC has beaten UCLA in three straight games, and the two schools have split 20 games in the last nine seasons. Being at home tonight gives USC an advantage, as home teams are 10-6 so far this season in Pac-10 play, but UCLA has won three of their four games at Galen Center.

Here is a look at tonight's probable starting lineups for both teams:

UCLA (9-5, 1-1)

Point Guard: Lazeric Jones

Shooting Guard: Malcolm Lee

Small Forward: Tyler Honeycutt

Power Forward: Reeves Nelson

Center: Joshua Smith

The Bruins have also received contributions this season off the bench from forward Brendan Lane (4.6 points, 5.0 rebounds in 23.4 minutes per game this season) and guards Tyler Lamb and Jerime Anderson.

USC (9-6, 1-1)

Point Guard: Maurice Jones

Shooting Guard: Jio Fontan

Small Forward: Marcus Simmons

Power Forward: Nikola Vucevic

Center: Alex Stephenson

The Trojans essentially have a seven-man rotation, with three-point shooters Donte Smith (41.2% from beyond the arc this season) and Bryce Jones (35.2%) off the bench. Smith (35 threes made) and Jones (19) lead USC in three-point field goals made this year. USC made 107 three-pointers in 30 games last season, but has already made 93 threes this year in half the games.

For more college hoops news, be sure to read the SB Nation blogs for UCLA (Bruins Nation) and USC (Conquest Chronicles).

UCLA Vs. USC: Trojans Host Bruins In First Game Of 2011

The USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins resume their rivalry Sunday night, doing battle at Galen Center in a matchup of two teams 1-1 in the Pac-10 conference. This is the first game of 2011 for both teams, who both haven't played since December 31. The Trojans have beaten the Bruins in each of their last three meetings.

Both USC and UCLA split with the Washington schools last week, beating the Cougars and losing to the Huskies. The rivalry between the two teams has been even in head-to-head matchups over the last nine years, with both the Trojans and Bruins winning 10 games apiece. While the Trojans have won three straight meetings overall, UCLA has beaten USC in three of four meetings at Galen Center.

Sophomores Reeves Nelson (15.0 points, 8.1 rebounds per game) and Tyler Honeycutt (14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds) lead the way for the Bruins, who won six straight games before falling to Washington nine days ago. Nikola Vucevic leads the Trojans in both scoring (15.9 points per game) and rebounds (10.0 per game), but the player to watch for USC is Jio Fontan. The junior transfer from Fordham is averaging 14.4 points in five games. While USC is 3-2 in Fontan's five games, their two losses are a two-point loss at Allen Fieldhouse in Kansas and an overtime loss to the best team in the conference, Washington.

The 7:30 p.m. PST game will be televised on Fox Sports West, with Steve Physioc and Steve Kerr calling the game and Rebecca Haarlow on the sideline. This is the first of two scheduled meetings this season between UCLA and USC, with the two teams facing off again on February 2 at Pauley Pavilion.

For more college hoops news, be sure to read the SB Nation blogs for UCLA (Bruins Nation) and USC (Conquest Chronicles).