UCLA Crushes Rival USC 89-68 in Regular Season Finale

Bruins star Donovan Dent erupts for 25 points in dominant victory at Galen Center

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

UCLA finished the regular season with a runaway 89-68 win over crosstown rival USC at the Galen Center. Bruins guard Donovan Dent led the way with 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, while also dishing out 7 assists. UCLA shot a blistering 59% in the second half to pull away from the reeling Trojans.

Why it matters

This victory caps off a strong regular season for UCLA, who have emerged as one of the top teams in the Pac-12 Conference. The lopsided win over their crosstown rivals USC will give the Bruins momentum heading into the postseason tournament.

The details

Dent and teammate Eric Dailey Jr. combined to score UCLA's first 15 points of the second half, helping the Bruins pull away from USC. Dent then scored 5 straight points to extend UCLA's lead to 72-47. Overall, the Bruins shot an impressive 59% from the field in the second half to cruise to the 21-point victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

The players

Donovan Dent

A standout guard for the UCLA Bruins, Dent led the team with 25 points and 7 assists in the victory over USC.

Eric Dailey Jr.

A key contributor for the UCLA Bruins, Dailey Jr. combined with Dent to score the team's first 15 points of the second half.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This was a huge win for us to end the regular season. We came out focused and executed our game plan to perfection.”

— Donovan Dent (washingtonpost.com)

What’s next

UCLA will now turn its attention to the Pac-12 Tournament, where the Bruins will look to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

UCLA's dominant performance over their crosstown rivals USC is a strong statement heading into the postseason. The Bruins' high-powered offense and balanced attack will make them a tough out for any opponent in the upcoming tournaments.