USC SNUFFS OUT UCLA COMEBACK TROJANS END THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK USC 76, UCLA 69.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

UCLA thought its biggest issues were a lack of physical strength, a shortage of depth and talent, and not enough team toughness.

However, a major concern was uncovered on a night reserved for emotion, when passion is rarely in question.

With USC in Pauley Pavilion, with both teams in dire need of a victory, and with a sellout crowd juiced for the chance to beat the Trojans in a revenue sport, the Bruins came out flatter than a crepe.

By the time UCLA found its passion, USC had a 22-point lead, and not even a frantic rally in the final 11 minutes could keep the Trojans from holding on to a 76-69 victory Wednesday to end a losing streak at three games.

``It was a very, very disappointing effort in the first half,'' UCLA coach Ben Howland said. ``We really played without the passion, (without) the aggressiveness we showed in the second half in making our comeback after being down 20 at halftime.''

UCLA (9-7, 5-4 Pacific-10 Conference) has lost four in a row and no longer seems to be a contender for even third place in the conference.

Making it more painful for Howland was how easily USC scored, particularly in the first half when the Trojans shot 56.3 percent. Even with UCLA's frenzied second-half comeback, USC shot 44 percent.

``Our defense is our Achilles' heel right now,'' Howland said. ``The thing we want to place our hat on is to defend and rebound, and that's really killing us right now in this four-game losing streak. We're not doing a good job defensively.''

Desmon Farmer, who spent the first half smiling to the UCLA student section after each of his baskets, scored a game-high 28 points. This is the first time USC (9-9, 4-5) has won three consecutive games against UCLA since the 1991-92 season.

Ryan Hollins, the only UCLA starter to score in the first half, led the Bruins with a career-high 21 points. ``This is for the city title,'' Farmer said. ``Now we got the first one, but what happened in the second half is we got complacent. We relaxed and the guys realized it wasn't over.''

When USC stretched its lead to 46-24 just 14 seconds into the second half on Nick Curtis' basket, it evoked unpleasant memories of how USC trampled the Bruins on the gridiron recently.

The Trojans led 64-45 after Farmer's second consecutive 3-pointer, but UCLA shifted to a zone and USC's offense became stagnant.

Trevor Ariza, who was benched to start the second half in favor of Janou Rubin, began a 23-7 run for UCLA with a follow-up dunk with 10:57 to play. Dijon Thompson had two 3-pointers in the run and Hollins finished it with a jump hook to pull the Bruins within 71-68 with three minutes to play.

But the comeback attempt fell short when, trailing by three, Rubin was called for traveling with 20.6 seconds left.

``The team was fired up before the game, and everyone came fired up and ready to play,'' Bruins point guard Cedric Bozeman said. ``I don't know. We didn't attack them. It looked like we played scared.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

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(color) Dijon Thompson, right, battles for possession with Errick Craven.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

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