Throughout the season, there were doubts about Donovan Dent’s shooting abilities.
He wasn’t seen as a threat from 3-point range, had issues at the free-throw line, and struggled to finish plays near the basket.
However, on Tuesday night, he turned that narrative around, impressively scoring against a fierce competitor.
With undeniable confidence, Dent hit four 3-pointers in the first half, doubling his previous single-game record.
He went on to net a personal best of 30 points, shooting 10-of-16 overall and hitting 5-of-6 from behind the arc, helping the Bruins secure an 81-62 victory over USC in front of their first full-capacity crowd in two years at Pauley Pavilion.
A few days after scoring the game-winning layup, Dent captivated a crowd of 13,659 with an outstanding night of shooting. His five 3-pointers dwarfed the total of eight he had made all season up to that point.
One memorable moment came midway through the second half when Dent hit a 30-foot shot just as the shot clock expired. In addition to his 30 points, he recorded seven assists without any turnovers. This impressive performance was a milestone for the Bruins, who improved to 19-9 overall and 11-6 in Big Ten play.
Moreover, he became the first UCLA player to drop 30 points against USC since Aaron Holiday achieved 34 in March 2018.
This marks UCLA’s third consecutive win in their rivalry with USC. If Dent can keep up this stellar performance, he may very well deliver on his promises leading into March. Before this game, he was shooting just 16.7 percent from long range and about 62.7 percent from the free-throw line.
In a tightly contested shooting match during the first half, Dent produced a stepback jumper over the towering 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dines as the buzzer sounded. By halftime, he had already scored 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, ahead of USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara.
Baker-Mazara scored 25 points for the Trojans, hitting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Last year, USC had faced a tough loss against UCLA in front of an energetic crowd and found themselves the target of some playful mockery from the Bruins, who played a video taunting USC’s coach before tipoff.
Later in the first half, Baker-Mazara created a bit of drama when he knocked the ball into Eric Freeney’s face while falling. The incident was reviewed but no flagrant foul was called, which brought boos from the crowd.
However, cheers quickly resumed as Dent heated up.
What does that mean?
This win was about more than just bragging rights.
Both teams needed this victory to boost their chances for the NCAA Tournament.
UCLA was seen as being in a good spot, while USC was on the wrong side of the bubble. These standings remained intact after the Bruins defended their home court, keeping up the momentum from their recent win over Illinois. The two teams are set to face each other again on March 7.
Turning point
UCLA struggled for much of the first half against a solid USC defense, but they finally found their rhythm in the closing minutes. A lob from Dent to Xavier Booker for a dunk, followed by a Dent layup, shifted the momentum. After another made basket, UCLA took control, leading 36-27.
MVP
Just days after distributing a season-high 15 assists against Illinois, Dent shifted into scoring mode.
The crowd loved every second of it.
UCLA will likely showcase this version of him whenever he decides to put on that performance.
To the next
Looking ahead, UCLA, having had its fair share of struggles on the road this season, will aim for a win against Minnesota on Saturday. The Gophers have lost four of their last six games at home, which could help UCLA find success.
On the other hand, USC faces a tougher challenge at home against No. 12 Nebraska, a surprising team in the Big Ten. A victory over the Cornhuskers could significantly enhance the Trojans’ n NCAA Tournament prospects.
