USC BASKETBALL: TROJANS READY TO GO THIS TIME.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL

Staff Writer

There was a time Nick Young, Gabe Pruitt and Lodrick Stewart would get intimidated the moment they stepped on the Pauley Pavilion court.

It could be seen in their eyes, understood in their words and interpreted from their mannerisms.

That wasn't the case Wednesday. The USC players came to UCLA itching for another chance at their cross-town rivals.

The result was unlike past USC games at Pauley Pavilion, but much like last month's game at Galen Center.

The Trojans raced out to a double-digit lead and controlled most of the game, but could not finish as UCLA kept control over the cross-town rivalry and held onto sole possession of first place in the Pacific-10 Conference with a 70-65 victory over USC.

Last year at Pauley Pavilion, USC lost the moment the players stepped timidly on the court. The Trojans trailed 18-2 after seven minutes.

This game was the opposite.

The Trojans felt they blew last month's one-point loss to UCLA, a game they led by 10 points in the second half.

They entered Pauley Pavilion angry, with a sense of entitlement even, and led 20-10 after six minutes when Young banked in a shot.

Young finished with 20 points compared with the 10 he had scored in his previous two games at Pauley Pavilion.

Pruitt had 16 after having 14 in two games at Pauley.

Stewart, a senior, had played three times at Pauley, yet outscored his previous combined total of 11 points with 13.

But the Trojans couldn't hold on to another 10-point lead.

Up by one at halftime, USC started out the second half hot and went back up by seven on a jumper by Stewart about five minutes in.

Arron Afflalo's 3-pointer from the right corner with 8:43 remaining tied the score at 46-46. Afflalo gave the Bruins their first lead of the game three minutes later on a slam dunk off a pass from Darren Collison, who had stolen the ball from Pruitt.

Then came the biggest possession of the game.

Josh Shipp, who didn't play in the teams' first game because of an injury, twice rebounded his own miss before finishing a layup and being fouled.

Stewart slammed down the ball, drawing a technical.

UCLA made both free throws, then added Shipp's free throw, and the five-point possession put the Bruins ahead 55-52.

Taj Gibson fouled out attempting a screen with 2:39 to go and the Trojans trailing by three, turning over the ball on an important possession and taking away USC's one inside threat on offense.

USC players went down shooting, with Dwight Lewis, Pruitt and Young all draining 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds.

But it wasn't enough.

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