UCLA-USC basketball: Trojans scratch out victory for sweep of Bruins

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USC managed to make fewer mistakes in an ugly game to come away with a 68-64 victory over UCLA, giving the Trojans a sweep of the Bruins in Pacific 10 Conference play.

It was the Trojans third consecutive victory over the Bruins, USC’s first at the Galen Center, and their first sweep of UCLA since the 2003-04 season. USC has swept UCLA only five times since the 1942-43 season.

Dwight Lewis scored 23 points and Donte Smith added a career-high 12 points for USC. Smith sparked an 18-9 run with five consecutive points to break a 38-38 tie.

UCLA got as close as 56-52 with four minutes left. USC committed five turnovers during a seven-possession stretch, but UCLA was able to score only two points in that time.

The Trojans made eight of 10 free throws in the last two minutes to clinch the victory.

USC shot 46% from the field and UCLA shot 39%. The Bruins turned the ball over 20 times compared to USC’s 15

The Trojans led by as many as eight points in the first half, and took a 32-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Lewis made four of his first five shots to help the Trojans build a 21-13 lead midway through the first half. But the Bruins, who were routed by USC at Pauley Pavilion, managed to control the inside to keep the game close.

The Bruins, who were out-rebounded, 37-22, by the Trojans last month, had a 25-11 edge in the first half and 46-25 for the game. It allowed UCLA second shots and prevented USC from cleaning up on the offensive boards, as the Trojans did in their first meeting this season.

Nikola Dragovic’s layup capped a 9-2 run to give UCLA a 29-28 lead with 3:55 left in the first half. But the Bruins turned the ball over on three of their last four possessions.

Neither team shot well in the first half. USC made 13 of 30 shots, while UCLA made 13 of 32.

-- Chris Foster