No. 17 UCLA beats No. 16 USC 75-68, finishes 2nd in Pac-12

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The UCLA Bruins could shout "We're number two!" and feel good about it for now.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 27 points and No. 17 UCLA defeated 16th-ranked Southern California 75-68 on Saturday night to claim the No. 2 seed in next week’s Pac-12 Tournament. No. 2 Arizona earned the top seed with 18 league victories.

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"We’re definitely focused and locked in going into the Pac-12 and NCAA Tournaments," said Jules Bernard, who added 19 points.

The Bruins (23-6, 15-5 Pac-12) came into the teams’ regular-season finale tied for second in the league with their crosstown rival. They snapped a five-game skid against the Trojans with their first win in the series since Feb. 28, 2019, and first under third-year coach Mick Cronin.

"It definitely means a lot to end the regular season on a good note," Bernard said.

Jaquez has scored 57 points in the Bruins' last two games, including a career-high 30 against Washington.

"I’m just feeling a lot better," he said. "My ankles are doing a lot better right now."

Johnny Juzang returned for UCLA after missing two games with a sprained right ankle. He finished with eight points, missing two free throws with 30 seconds left and the Bruins clinging to a four-point lead.

Bernard went 3 of 4 at the free-throw line to close out the win.

UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., center, celebrates as time runs out with guard Johnny Juzang, left, and guard Jaylen Clark in second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Southern California Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. UCLA won 75-68. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Trojans (25-6, 14-6) were led by Isaiah Mobley with 20