USC upsets UCLA in the Pac-10 Semifinals

The USC Trojans haven’t exactly had the best season. Coming into the Pac-10 playoffs seeded 6th and with a 9-9 record, the Trojans were hardly considered for a berth in the NCAA playoffs. That is, until last night, when the Trojans upset the Bruins, the defending Pac-10 champions in the semifinals of the Pac-10 Tournament.

The Trojans defied all stats and odds by never letting up their lead and holding the powerhouse Bruins to 27% from the field. Here are some photos from the game:

DeMar DeRozan with a massive dunk in the first half.

Alfred Aboya celebrates a three-pointer in the first half

Jrue Holiday, Taj Gibson, Nikola Dragovic fight for a rebound in the second half.

Darren Collison commits an offensive foul on Marcus Simmons in the second half.

Marcus Simmons, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Dragovic fight for a rebound in the second half.

Dwight Lewis and DeMar DeRozan celebrate DeRozan’s dunk in the second half.

Taj Gibson celebrates a three-pointer in the second half.

The UCLA bench sits dejected during a free throw late in the second half.

The Trojans face the Arizona State Sun Devils this afternoon in the Pac-10 Championships.

See more photos from the USC–UCLA game.

See the photos from the Washington–Arizona State game.

UPDATE: Defying all odds, the USC Trojans managed to rally back from a nearly-all-game deficit to defeat Arizona State and win the Pac-10 Championship. See photos from the championship game here.

A week of hoops

Some favorite shots from USC basketball games taken over the past week:

February 2, 2008: USC defeats Arizona State (67-53)

Arizona State forward Jeff Pendergraph (4) takes a shot over USC’s Taj Gibson (22) during the first half of the USC Trojans’ 67-53 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Galen Center on February 2, 2008.

January 31, 2008: Arizona defeats USC (80-69)

USC forward Davon Jefferson #5 makes a layup over Arizona’s Jordan Hill #43 in the second half of the Arizona Wildcats 80-69 victory over the USC Trojans at the Galen Center on January 31, 2008.

January 26, 2008: Women’s Basketball – USC defeats Oregon (46-42)

Oregon’s Nicole Canepa #54, defended by USC’s Hailey Dunham #3, lets out a yell as she drives toward the basket in the first half of USC’s 46-42 victory over the Oregon Ducks on January 26, 2008.