(East Los Angeles, CA) March 12, 2022 [From The Editor’s Desk]: It took a Best “2 out-of-3” format to settle this season’s Battle for the City’s College Hoops superiority. And it came in one of the best environments since NCAA post-season conference tournament play was sanctioned by the then known, PAC-10 Conference in 2002. The 2022 second semi-final game of the much-heralded PAC-12 “Conference of Champions” tournament took place in the T-Mobile Arena, LasVegas, NV, the home site of the tournament since 2012. And of course, it featured the tournament’s #2 seed, UCLA Bruins (24-6) matched up with the #3 seed, USC Trojans (26-6).

{Game Summary}….[1st Half]: The Trojans went up (8-7) early and with both teams finding their rhythms, they traded baskets for the first (5:00) minutes. At the (14:00) minute TV Time-out #1 was taken by Fox Sports and it was (9-8) Bruins. At the (11:29) mark, it was still Bruins ahead (16-13). USC tied it on a 3 pointer. Bruins went back into the lead on a Cody Riley jumper. Point Guard, Tyger Campbell then hit a matching 3-pointer for a (22-15) lead at (8:40). Jaime Jaquez, Jr. made 1 of 2 free throws on a shooting foul, (23-16). Trojan Point Guard, Boogie Ellis then connected on a 3-pointer to draw closer at (22-19). Jules Bernard then went to the charity stripe twice in a row for attempts and made 3 of 4, making it (27-19). USC’s center, Chevez Goodwin scored on a “put-back” underneath, (27-21). Campbell would hit another jumper, (32-21). TV Time-out #3 came with (3:30) left in half. USC’s reserve forward, Kobe Johnson hit 2 free throws, cutting the lead to 9 at (32-23). Jaquez, Jr. then hit a soft turn-around baseline jumper, (34-23). Goodwin then dropped in 1 of 2 free throws for a (34-24) read on the scoreboard, favoring UCLA. Jaquez, Jr. was fouled once again and made his “1 + 1” bonus for a (36-24 lead) with just (:46) seconds left in half. USC’s Drew Peterson answered back with his own “1 + 1,” moving the score to (36-26). Johnny Juzang made his “1 + 1” bonus with (:17) seconds. USC’s talented two guard, Drew Peterson then ended the half with a good look and hit an 18 ft. baseline “buzzer beater” for a score of (36-28), in favor of the Bruins.

(HALFTIME SCORE):  UCLA  36  USC  28

{2nd Half} Jaquez, Jr. opened the Bruins scoring with a short jumper (38-30). A Goodwin lay up, made it (38-32) after the first two minutes of play. Jaquez, Jr. then drew a shooting foul, and after sinking both, moved the score to a (40-32) lead. A Peterson jumper, cut the lead to (40-34). Troy’s center, Isaiah Mobley rang up a score on a drive, but was answered by UCLA’s Juzang. USC’s Kobe Johnson then connected, cutting the lead to just four at (42-38). Bruins center, Myles Johnson answered back on a pretty “lob” pass moving the score to (44-38). PeytonWatson then scored on a lay-up, (46-38). A TV Time-out was taken at (13:05). On resuming play, Watson then drained a huge trey adding a 6th man, named Mr. Momentum to the Bruins quintet. The double digit advantage now grew to 11, at (49-38). But, the Trojans, Ellis had the hot hand for his squad and kept them within range at (49-40). Jaquez, Jr. answered with a short “put-back,” (51-40). A team time-out was called with (11:20) left.

Then upon their return to play, Ellis hit a much-needed and timely 3 pointer, cutting the Bruins lead back to 8 at (51-43). Ellis, who was hot, and in a shooter’s rhythm, again was credited with mid-range jumper, (51-45). Juzang came back with a mid-range jumper of his own, making it (53-45). A short Peterson jumper in the key closed it to (53-47). Then Bernard hit a nice looking base-line 3-pointer stretching the lead back up to 9 at (56-47). After that, a TV/time-out was taken at (7:50). Ellis, returned again with yet another triple and cut the lead to just 6 at (56-50). Campbell hit 2 free throws for (57-50). Bernard hit a tough lay-up in the paint for (59-50). Next, a close “tip-in” by Mobley kept it close at (59-52). Bernard was fouled while shooting and made both shots, followed by a twisting Juzang drive that was good for (63-52) scoreboard look. USC called a time-out with (3:49) left. After Mobley was fouled on a shot attempt, he made only 1, (63-53). Jaquez, Jr., still working hard and in his appropriate game and offensive rhythms, drove hard on a drive and scored, then making it (65-53) ball game. Ellis was still “on-fire” and scored on a driving lay-up (65-55). He came right back and drew a 2-shot foul, making both, (65-57), with only (1:04) left. Campbell then scored on an uncontested lay-up off the 3/4 court “in-bound” pass from Jaquez, Jr., (67-57). USC called its final time-out with (00:53) seconds left. Resuming play, Ellis was fouled and made both free throws to close out the scoring. UCLA ran out the clock and that ended the contest.

(FINAL SCORE): UCLA 69   USC  59

Tonight’s 3/12, PAC-12 Championship features the #1 seed, Arizona Wildcats and the #2 UCLA Bruins. Tip-off is set for 6:00 pm and can be seen on Fox 11 locally. Both teams and the #3 seed, USC Trojans will advance to the “Big Dance” next Tuesday when the fabled, Super event, the “Road to the Final 4” and its (68) teams, begins with the “First Four” play-in games, March 15-16.

The NCAA’s “Selection Sunday” will give everyone a look at the four Regional pairings for the start of this year’s tournament. Catch the entire broadcast on CBS’ Channel 2 at 3:00 pm | PST.

(UCLA Scoring Stats): Jaime Jaquez, Jr: (19) points.**(99) points over last (4) games on 60% field goal shooting, with an average of (24.7 ppg); Jules Bernard/15 pts; Tyger Campbell/14 pts; and Johnny Juzang/10 pts.

[RE: Jaquez, Jr.’s Post-Game Interview on Fox Sports]—On what he’s been doing to prepare for games like this…first, he likes to eat pancakes for breakfast then gather with team; On how he has comeback from his season injury setbacks…feels he’s overcome his ankle and concussion injuries and is now getting healthier day-by-day…On the Bruins team defense tonight…it was our aggressiveness and making the other team feel very uncomfortable. On the Title game….he’s eager and ready to face-up with Arizona in the Final. Last comment, he will definitely have pancakes for breakfast in the morning as he said leaving the game’s media production set with a very happy smile and grin on his face.