UCLA Vs. USC: Reaction From Bruins Nation And Conquest Chronicles

The best part about being in the SB Nation network is that you can get reaction straight from the keyboards of every team's most passionate fans. So when a game features two teams from our immediate area, we can get information from both sides of the coin, which is the case with UCLA's 64-50 victory over USC last night.

Since history is written by the winners, we'll start with UCLA and our Bruins Nation blog, who think this is a win that could get the Bruins back on track, and validate some of the players on the team.

Breaking the streak was necessary. Beating this very average team was necessary (for our tournament profile). But props to them for getting it done, and congratulations to Zeek, who had said that he's not officially a Bruin until he beat the Trogans. Well Zeek, you're a Bruin now, and as a Bruin, it'll be on you to bring that same intensity on Saturday.

There is nothing like a cross-town rivalry to get a team to play better than they have been. Maybe they can use the good vibes from this victory to help with a late season charge towards the NCAA tournament.

As for the Trojans, they didn't have a big game recap on Conquest Chronicles. They didn't have very much at all actually. Just one line that kind of summed everything up.

The Monopoly is still in place pal...

The cross-town rivalry seems to have had the reverse affect on the Trojans, who don't seem to be happy with the current state of affairs. A loss to the cross-town rival will do that to you.

UCLA Downs USC At Pauley Pavillion, 64-50

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Joshua Smith came off the bench to score 15 points as the UCLA Bruins downed the USC Trojans, 64-50, in a Pac-10 Conference matchup at Pauley Pavilion.

Malcom Lee scored 13 points for the Bruins (15-7, 7-3 Pac-10), while Reeves Nelson grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to go with his eight points.

Nikola Vucevic scored 18 points to pace the Trojans (12-11, 4-6), while Alex Stepheson added 14 points and eight rebounds.

Neither team could pull away at the start, as UCLA took a 36-35 lead into the locker room behind 58.3 percent first half shooting.

In the second half, the Bruins' defense heightened its intensity, holding USC to just seven field goals over the final 20 minutes.

The Trojans converted just 1-of-9 attempts from downtown on the night.

UCLA Vs. USC: Trojans Seek Fifth Straight Win Over Bruins

The USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins resume their rivalry tonight at Pauley Pavilion, as USC seeks a fifth straight win over UCLA for the first time since 1943. The Trojans have defeated the Bruins four straight times, including a 63-52 win on January 9 at Galen Center. Tonight opens the second half of the Pac-10 schedule for both teams.

UCLA since losing to USC has won five of six games, and the Bruins are third in the conference with a 6-3 record. The Bruins are 10-2 at home this season, while USC is just 2-6 on the road. Tonight is the first of five straight home games for the Bruins. Sophomore forward Reeves Nelson, who leads the Bruins in both scoring and rebounding, is nursing a sprained ankle which he aggravated on Saturday against Arizona State, but he is expected to play tonight.

Here are tonight's probable starters:

USC (12-10, 4-5)

• Guard: Jio Fontan
• Guard: Maurice Jones
• Guard: Marcus Simmons
• Forward: Alex Stephenson
• Forward: Nikola Vucevic

UCLA (14-7, 6-3)

• Guard: Lazeric Jones
  
• Guard: Jerime Anderson
• Guard: Malcolm Lee
• Forward: Reeves Nelson
• Forward: Tyler Honeycutt
  

Tonight's 8 p.m. PST game will be televised on Prime Ticket, with Steve Physioc, Marques Johnson, and Rebecca Haarlow on the call. For more news on tonight's game, be sure to follow Bruins Nation and Conquest Chronicles.