LOS ANGELES - Senior guard Donovan Dent has fully arrived for UCLA (19-9, 11-6) and he's done it just in time to turn the Bruins' season around.
Dent may have not immediately materialized into the game-changing point guard that he was expected to be when he became a Bruin after three stellar seasons at the University of New Mexico, but in the past two games, Dent has become everything that the Bruins needed him to be and recruited him for.
He was the overtime hero in UCLA's comeback victory over No. 10 Illinois on Saturday after sinking a buzzer-beating layup to power the Bruins to victory, and on Tuesday he showed out in his first Los Angeles rivalry game, scoring a game-leading 30 points on 10-16 shooting from the field and 5-6 from three point range on the way to an 81-62 victory over USC (18-10, 7-10).
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
Donovan Dent #2 of the UCLA Bruins handles the ball during an NCAA basketball game against the USC Trojans, Tuesday February 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
"I'm having a blast," Dent said. "The reason I was shooting so many threes was they were just giving them to me. They were going like three-remove, which is kind of crazy, so I was just taking my time, sitting back and shooting the shot."
Dent added seven assists and two rebounds to his stellar scoring night and possibly the most remarkable number from his performance was his zero turnovers, marking the second-straight game that Dent hasn't given up the ball while still being a major playmaker for his team.
Letting Dent go to work
His hot-hand was undeniable on Tuesday. He wove his way through the opposing defense for stunning layups and dominated from the perimeter, landing nearly every shot he took from long range.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
The UCLA Bruins bench celebrates a made three point shot by Eric Freeny #8 during an NCAA basketball game against the USC Trojans, Tuesday February 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
On a night like that, Dent's teammates knew that all they really needed to do was to let him shine and step in when they needed to help facilitate the rest of the game.
"He's just doing his job. He's doing his thing and I'm very proud for him," sophomore guard Trent Perry said of Dent. "I always trust that he's going to find me when I'm open. But, today it was his night and I just had to lock down on the defensive end and let him go to work."
An offensive duel
As dominant as Dent was, he did have a counterpart wearing scarlet and gold on the other side of the court. Senior guard Chad Baker-Mazara was leading the way for the Trojans.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
Chad Baker-Mazara #4 of the USC Trojans celebrates a made three point shot during an NCAA basketball game against the UCLA Bruins, Tuesday February 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
He scored 12 of USC's first 15 points and he finished the game with a team-leading 25 points and eight rebounds while shooting 8-16 from the field and 5-9 from three.
Even though Baker-Mazara was coming close to shot-for-shot with Dent, the UCLA guard was too focused on his own team's success to notice.
Donovan Dent is at 30 points ladies and gentleman
— Jack Haslett (@JackHaslett_13) February 25, 2026
"If I'm having a great night and he's having a great night, it's fine. But, my teammates around me are just going to have it even better than his teammates," Dent said. "That's just kind of my mindset. I don't really try to go back and forth with it."
Tournament implications
Taking down USC in such dominant fashion fresh of the comeback win of the season is sure to be a statement game for the Bruins that can secure a place in the NCAA tournament that at times seemed in question.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
Donovan Dent #2 of the UCLA Bruins lays the ball up during an NCAA basketball game against the USC Trojans, Tuesday February 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
As the Bruins move ever closer to March Madness basketball, they'll need Dent playing in top form like he has been to not just compete in the tournament, but be true dark horses that could shock the basketball world.
"Nobody's going anywhere in March without their best players... especially in hoops," UCLA head coach Mick Cronin said. "Your best players, obviously Donnie being one of ours, have got to play well."