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UCLA's three losses to USC in 2016 'escalates the rivalry'

/ STAFF WRITER

Steve Alford didn’t technically answer the question, but his answer was plenty revealing.

On the eve of his first meeting with USC since the Trojans were responsible for Alford’s low point at UCLA, the Bruins basketball coach was asked how it felt to lose to USC three times last season.

“Well, it wasn’t as good as the feeling I had when we beat USC five times in a row,” Alford said.

UCLA didn’t lose to the school across town the first two seasons of Alford’s tenure. But the Trojans completed last season’s sweep, booting UCLA out of the Pac-12 tournament with a 24-point win that not only ended the Bruins’ season but ensured a rare losing record for the proud program.