"Now we'll have to go to USC twice," he said.
The Sports Arena game is Feb. 15, with UCLA wearing the home whites. The Galen Center game was Sunday night, on the University of Southern California's court amid 8,474 witnesses.
It was as replenishing as Desert Hot Springs, without the mud pack.
The Bruins pillaged the village with a 66-47 victory, leaving USC at 0-5 in the Pac-12 and boosting themselves to 3-2. As Coach Ben Howland observed, it was UCLA's first true road victory, in front of true antagonists.
"The fans were saying they hated No. 11," Jones said, laughing. "I don't know what I did to them. But I'm part of the rivalry now.
"They were really on my back for a minute. I came to the sidelines and got stressed a little bit. They were really dogging me over here in the corner."
Maybe the USC fans were sensing that they were watching one varsity team that wouldn't score 50 on UCLA.
The Trojans had 40 with 12:20 left and, in the first half, went 11 minutes without field goals.
And maybe that's why most fans stayed put at halftime, to see a real offensive player.
Harold Miner's No. 23 jersey was retired, along John Rudometkin's and Bill Sharman's. Miner also was greeted by most of his former teammates, and spoke eloquently of the days when he was the wintertime Main Event in L.A.
"I played from two standpoints," he said. "I wanted to win, and I wanted to make sure I gave the fans their money's worth each and every game."
Miner would have thrived even more at Galen Center, where the Trojans might well have sold out the entire Pac-10 schedule for 1991-92.
There are reasons why these Trojans are so dreadful. When Nikola Vucevic goes to the NBA (and is a factor, for Philadelphia), and when Alex Stepheson and Marcus Simmons move on, and then when Jio Fontan tears up a knee in Brazil, there are not enough blowout patches to keep things rolling.
But USC's morbid offense was matched by a no-show on the boards (UCLA with 44 rebounds, USC 19), and the Bruins shot 64 percent in the first half.
UCLA is 8-2 since Dec. 3, although nobody is preparing a documentary just yet.
So what has happened since 2-5?
"We like each other," Jones said. "We're a family, looking out for each other. You can tell when guys are playing for each other."
If that sounds like a commentary on the departed Reeves Nelson, it probably is.
After Nelson was disinvited from the program, it came time to use the strengths that made UCLA one of the preseason Pac-12 favorites: the skill and size of the Wear twins, and the combined 131 games of experience that guards Jones and Jerime Anderson bring.
Except now they're playing together, with Anderson nominally the point guard.
On many possessions Jones is the one getting the Bruins into their offense, just like before, and Anderson is spotting up. Either way, Jones had 15 points, five assists and two turnovers Sunday. He leads the Bruins in scoring, free-throw attempts and assists and has been their most reliable 3-point shooter.
"The coaches wanted me to score more so they made the switch in the backcourt," Jones said. "I was cool with it.
"We know Jerime can handle the ball and he's good in tough situations. If either one of us get the ball, we can push it up, and we have guys on each side who are getting open."
Besides, Jones doesn't have a sense of entitlement.
He spent his sophomore and juniors years at Chicago's Simeon High watching and waiting for the point guard to graduate. That guy was Derrick Rose.
"Guarding him every day in practice, you learn a lot," Jones said. "I watched every move he made."
But when Jones got a chance to lead Simeon - and four other new starters - he took the club to the state finals. Then he wound up at John Logan JC for two years, getting the call from UCLA when it became clear that Jrue Holliday would become a one-and-done.
Not many Division I teams have senior leaders anymore. With so few college games left, Jones is intent on saving a season, although Howland has acknowledged that UCLA must win the Pac-12 Tournament to make the NCAAs.
"We're not even worrying about how many games we have to win," he said. "We're fighting. We're positive around each other, no matter what people might say about us. We're just trying to get as many wins as we can get."
That number is uncertain, but Jones still has one more trip downtown.
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