USC vs. UCLA: A Disappointing Clash
In a disappointing clash on Tuesday evening, USC faced off against UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, resulting in a 81-62 defeat that intensified tensions in this historic rivalry. Alijah Arenas, a promising freshman, left the court visibly frustrated after accumulating three fouls just minutes into the second half. His struggle mirrored that of the entire Trojans squad, which struggled offensively throughout the matchup, relying predominantly on Chad Baker-Mazara’s remarkable performance, who scored 25 points, including 14 in the first half.
Alijah Arenas’ Performance
Arenas, after being sidelined for a significant portion of the first half due to fouls, contributed only four points from free throws in his brief nine minutes on the court before the break.
The loss was especially painful for the Trojans, who could not afford to drop another game, being on the fringes of postseason contention according to USA TODAY Sports’ latest Bracketology. This defeat marks their fourth consecutive loss in the Big Ten and the second in a row in a critical Quad 1 matchup, having previously surrendered a lead to Oregon.
Despite the rocky performance, Arenas has shown glimpses of the talent that earned him five-star recruit status and a projected lottery pick before the season. Although his statistics were modest, the traits that make him a special player—like evading double teams, creating opportunities at the free-throw line, and facilitating plays—remain apparent. In total, he scored 10 points in the game, the only other Trojan to join Baker-Mazara in double digit scoring, adding six of those in the closing moments.
Summary of Alijah Arenas’ Performance Against UCLA
- Points: 10
- Field Goals: 2-for-8 (0-for-2 from the three-point range)
- Free Throws: 6-for-6
- Rebounds: 4
- Assists: 0
- Steals: 1
- Blocks: 0
- Turnovers: 5
- Fouls: 3
- Minutes: 21
