UCLA Basketball: Bruins' Best Player Reflects On Storied USC Rivalry

This will be the 262nd meeting between these two rivals.

Your UCLA Bruins have their most important game to date, and it comes tonight as they take on the USC Trojans on the road. The Bruins will play their 20th game of the season, and they'll look for their ninth win. 

The rivalry with the Trojans is one of the great ones in the college realm, and it's one that people in Southern California don't take lightly. The schools, alumni, and players realize the importance of this game, including UCLA's center Adem Bona. Bona spoke to the media prior to their showdown and discussed what the rivalry means to him.

“It’s a historical rivalry," Bona said during a Thursday presser. "Everybody that has come into UCLA knows about the rivalry. And I know all of us are looking forward to the games, especially the guys who are from L.A., from out here.”

“It’s a historical rivalry. Everybody that has come into UCLA knows about the rivalry. And I know all of us are looking forward to the games, especially the guys who are from L.A., from out here.”

Sophomore Adem Bona, speaking about the UCLA-USC rivalry pic.twitter.com/iVqsGLJQc4

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) January 25, 2024

The sophomore is 1-1 against the Trojans so far in his career, and he'll look to move to 3-1 after this season. 

Overall, the Bruins hold the all-time record at 146-115. However, UCLA dropped their latest game against the Trojans and has lost five in a row to them on the road. 

The Bruins are coming off a solid week of basketball, going 2-1 in three pac-12 games, one on the road and one at home. Bona and the Bruins will look to take the frustration out on the Trojans, as it's been a week since their last game, which ended in a loss. 

The matchup tonight won't disappoint, and it will be one you cannot miss. Tip-off is set at 5:05 p.m. PT.