The hype in Los Angeles was real. The city had been buzzing about the UCLA-USC showdown for weeks, and UCLA alum Reggie Miller wasn’t missing a second of it. Just over a week after USC swept UCLA in the regular season, sealing its first Big Ten title, the two rivals were set for another clash—this time, with way more than just bragging rights on the line.

Not just the fans—players and coaches were just as fired up for this game. UCLA coach Cori Close made that clear. “Right after (last weekend’s) game I said, ‘Absolutely. I’d love another opportunity,’” she admitted after her team punched its ticket to the big rematch with a dominant 75-46 win over Ohio State in the semifinals. The Bruins weren’t about to let history repeat itself, and neither was Miller.

And just like that, Miller made his stance known. The former NBA sharpshooter wasn’t just backing UCLA—he was calling for “payback.” But his warning wasn’t aimed at the Trojans. Instead, he directed it at a 2x NCAA champion—his own sister, Cheryl Miller.

“Hey @cmill31, let the big PAYBACK begin 🤔😉💪🏾👍🏾🤘🏾,” Reggie posted on his Instagram story, adding a picture of the two. In the photo, he was proudly rocking a UCLA jersey, while Cheryl stood beside him in USC colors. The stage was set, the stakes were clear, and Miller was all in.

And as it turned out, he had every reason to be confident. The game went down at Pauley Pavilion, and both Millers were there to soak it all in. But in the end, Reggie got exactly what he predicted—his long-awaited “payback.” UCLA took care of business, flipping the script from their previous losses.

Reggie Miller’s Bruins run riot

Reggie Miller got exactly what he wanted—payback. The UCLA Bruins (22-9, 13-7) closed out their regular season with a statement win, demolishing bitter rivals USC (15-16, 7-13) by a dominant 90-63 score at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night. The victory not only sealed a season sweep over the Trojans but also gave UCLA’s seniors a perfect send-off in front of a roaring home crowd.

From the opening tip, UCLA took complete control. The Bruins looked more than ready for the Big Ten Tournament, shooting a blistering 61.7% from the field while drilling 10 three-pointers. But it wasn’t just their offense that stole the show—their defense forced 20 turnovers, turning those mistakes into a staggering 37 points.

By halftime, the Bruins were already up by 12, and they only turned up the heat in the second half. On senior night, they didn’t just beat USC—they buried them. The 27-point blowout might have been UCLA’s best game all season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Now, the Bruins are sitting pretty with a top-four seed in the Big Ten standings, securing a crucial double bye in the conference tournament. Thanks to their win over Michigan State, UCLA holds the tiebreaker over other 13-7 teams and will skip the first two days of play. Their road to the title starts next Friday in Indianapolis, where they’ll face either the No. 13, No. 12, or No. 6 seed.