Bodog Beat

Kevin Love had another double-double for the Bruins. (AP Images)

While the NBA All-Stars were laughing it up in their goodwill exhibition in New Orleans, two of college basketball’s fiercest rivals smacked each other around in L.A.

No. 6 UCLA took out their cross-town foes from USC, 56-46, Sunday night in a game that featured elbows to the head, wagging tongues and wicked glares. The Bruins avenged a home loss last month by coming out strong to take an eight-point lead into the intermission.

All-America point guard Darren Collison finished with 14 points and freshman sensation Kevin Love had 13 points and 11 rebounds as UCLA improved to 22-3. The Bruins also held on to a one-game lead in the Pac-10 over No. 7 Stanford. They limited USC’s freshman guard O.J. Mayo to just four points.

UCLA was favored by seven against the point spread and secured the win and cover when Love tore down the final rebound with less than 10 seconds to play.

The Trojans fell to 15-9 and may be in trouble because of serious back injury to starting guard Daniel Hackett.

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