USC Garners 4th Consecutive Win Against UCLA, 63-52
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nikola Vucevic scored 20 points to lead Southern California's inside game and the Trojans defeated UCLA 63-52 Sunday night for their fourth straight win over their crosstown rival.
Alex Stepheson had 13 points and 16 rebounds playing his first game without the cast he had worn since breaking a bone in his left hand before the season. Jio Fontan added 10 points despite foul trouble for USC (10-6, 2-1 Pac-10).
Reeves Nelson scored 14 points and Jerime Anderson added 11 for UCLA (9-6, 1-2). Joshua Smith scored eight points playing much of the second half with four fouls.
The Trojans opened both halves with scoring bursts in front of a sellout home crowd that was notable for its small amount of UCLA fans.
Just like in the first half, the Trojans pushed their lead to eight points. Stepheson scored off his offensive rebound to make it 45-37.
The Bruins closed to 52-48 on Smith's inside basket with 6:07 to play. But they were limited over the final minutes with Smith, second-leading scorer Tyler Honeycutt and Lazeric Jones all in foul trouble. UCLA committed 17 turnovers that led to 20 points for USC.
USC has won six of its last eight games, holding each of those opponents to 40 percent shooting or worse. The Bruins hit 39 percent.
The Trojans raced to their largest lead of the first half, 15-7, on the strength of three 3-pointers by Fontan, Marcus Simmons and Maurice Jones.
The Bruins took their first lead, 22-21, on Brendan Lane's steal that fed Nelson's layup with 7:50 to play in the half. UCLA led 30-28 at halftime.
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