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USC stuns UCLA with last second three-pointer to keep Pac-12 title hopes alive

It doesn’t get much bigger than beating your rival with an almost-buzzer-beater to cap a furious comeback.

By Collin Sherwin Updated
Evan Mobley of the USC Trojans makes a basket over Jaylen Clark of the UCLA Bruins in the first half of the game at Pauley Pavilion on March 6, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

The USC Trojans led for all of exactly one second of their game against their rival UCLA.

The last one.

With a magical corner three-pointer by Tahj Eaddy with 1.4 seconds remaining, the USC Trojans escaped Pauley Pavilion with a 64-63 win over the UCLA Bruins on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.

UCLA was up 61-53 with four minutes remaining, but scored just two points the rest of the way. For those familiar with the work of Mick Cronin at UCLA and Cincinnati, it’s a familiar refrain: A team with a lead blows it late.

The Bruins led 36-25 at halftime, but were just 1-3 in the second half from three-point range while getting outrebounded 19-14. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led all Bruins with 12 points on 5-10 shooting.

Evan Mobley was terrific for the Trojans in his last regular season game before leaving for the NBA, with 13 points and 11 rebounds to keep USC in it. The Men of Troy were 0-6 from three-point range in the first half, but 4-10 in the second to get the win, none bigger than the dagger from Eaddy.

If Oregon State beats Oregon tomorrow in Corvallis, USC will be the Pac-12 regular season champions, and the No. 1 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas.

USC closed as a 2.5 point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook.

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