The Cal Bears guard Rodney Brown Jr (1) tries to defend against the USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6) in the first half Galen Center in Los Angeles on Wed Jan 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024

Galen Center, Los Angeles, California

California Golden Bears 74 (4-10 Overall; 0-3 Pac-12)

USC Trojans 82 (7-7 Overall; 1-2 Pac-12)

By Stephen Ruderman

The Bears began their all-Los Angeles road trip with an 82-74 loss to the USC Trojans, despite a 23-point performance from Jaylon Tyson as they have now dropped their first three Pac-12 games.

The Bears were trying to start fresh after a devastating loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Sunday, and they would try to do so against a USC team, who had dropped five of their previous six games coming into tonight.

Cal won the opening tip, and Keyonte Kennedy hit a jumper to put them on the board early. Joshua Morgan then made a jumper for USC, followed by a layup by Isiah Collier to make it 4-2 Trojans. 

USC maintained a small lead throughout the next several minutes, but a jumper by Jaylon Tyson tied it at 8-8, and a layup by Tyson gave the Bears a 10-8 lead. Collier hit a jumper for USC to tie it, and then Jalen Cone hit a three-ball to make it 13-10 Cal.

USC then scored seven unanswered points to take a 17-13 lead, but Cal quickly responded, as Rodney Brown Jr. hit a free throw, and Tyson tied it with a three. DJ Rodman hit a three for the Trojans to give them a 20-17 lead, but Fardaws Aimaq then laid one in, and Tyson hit a jumper to put the Bears back ahead at 21-20 with 7:42 left in the first period.

Bronny James hit a jumper to give USC the lead again, and Jalen Celestine hit a three to give the lead back to the Bears at 24-22. Rodman then hit a three to put USC back ahead, and start a 15-5 run, which would take the Trojans into the half with a 37-29 lead.

USC then hit the ground running in the second period, as Rodman hit a three to start things off. Cone hit a jumper for the Bears, but Kobe Johnson hit a three for the Trojans, and Collier laid one in to open USC’s lead to 45-31.

The Trojans led 61-44 with 12:27 remaining, as they had pretty much put the game away. USC would keep that rather-large lead for the next several minutes, and they were up 73-61 with 5:45 remaining. 

However, the Bears made some noise. Kennedy hit a jumper, and Cone hit a three, as it was now 73-66 with 4:53 remaining. Boogie Ellis then hit a three for USC with 2:37 remaining to make it 76-66, but Celestine hit a jumper, as well as the free throw after he was fouled, and Tyson dunked on. Suddenly it was 76-71 with just two minutes remaining.

Despite the Bears’ valiant efforts, they still ultimately fell short, as the Trojans held on to win it, 82-74.

The Bears fall to 4-10, and are now 0-3 to start Pac-12 play. They will head over to UCLA to play the Bruins Saturday night at 7:00.