LOS ANGELES — Top-ranked UCLA was seeing red at practice on Wednesday, with its scout team donning the colors of crosstown rival Southern California. The sixth-ranked Trojans' fight song blared in the Bruins' gym, too.

Beating the undefeated Bruins always was going to require more than JuJu Watkins willing the Trojans to victory. But make no mistake, USC is also going to need more from its star sophomore.

Ohio State, led by Taylor Thierry’s 14 points and Cotie McMahon’s 13, struggled to keep up, particularly after Thierry fouled out in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes were out-rebounded and failed to recover from the Trojans’ third-quarter surge.

USC Trojans sophomore guard JuJu Watkins and senior forward Kiki Iriafen have been named to Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Watch Lis