USC outlasts Oregon State in double overtime
It didn’t come easily, but USC’s 94-91 escape of Oregon State in double overtime locked up a first-round bye in the upcoming Pac-12 Tournament for the Trojans. It was also win No. 24 for the Trojans this season, tying the school record for regular-season wins.
This game was notable for two guards. One, in USC’s Boogie Ellis, didn’t play due to a sprained ankle suffered during Wednesday’s practice. The other, Oregon State’s Dashawn Davis, played the game of his life.
Davis scored a game-high 31 points and absolutely took over down the stretch. With 6:17 remaining in the game, Davis had four points and USC led 63-56. Davis would go on to score 19 points in that span, including hitting the game-tying three-pointer with three seconds remaining. He’d eventually hit 10 shots in a row and single-handedly kept Oregon State in the game through the end of regulation and both overtimes.
USC’s gets scoring across the board
USC finished with five players scoring in double figures. The Trojans were led by Drew Peterson, who had 23 points and 10 rebounds. Isaiah Mobley finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Max Agbonkpolo had 16 points. Reese Dixon-Waters had a career-high 14 points, and Ethan Anderson finished with 12 to go along with six assists and five steals.
After a back-and-forth start, it looked like USC was going to take control of the game as the first half came to a close. With the game tied at 27, the Trojans went on an 11-0 run to go up 38-27 with 1:37 remaining. But the Trojans turned the ball over five times over the end of the first half and start of the second as Oregon State went on a 17-5 run to take a 44-43 lead with 17 minutes remaining. The Trojans finished with 17 turnovers as they continue to struggle in that area of late.
USC didn’t put this one away until late in the second overtime. Anderson hit a running hook shot with 1:13 remaining to give the Trojans a 91-89 lead. David tried to answer as he’d done all night but he was clearly gassed at that point. After a phenomenal performance, he missed his final three shots of the night. That included a three-pointer with three seconds remaining that would have tied the game at 94 and likely forced a third overtime.
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USC’s surprising success at the free throw line was a huge factor in the win. The Trojans, one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the country this season, drilled 21 of 25 attempts from the line. Peterson and Mobley combined to go 13-for-13.
USC looking forward
Oregon State came into the game with just three wins, but the Beavers can be a dangerous team at home. This won’t be a resume-building win for the Trojans by any stretch. But pulling out the win avoids a disastrous loss.
USC now heads to Eugene to take on an Oregon team coming off an upset win over UCLA on Thursday night. The Ducks beat the Trojans 79-69 in Los Angeles back in January. Oregon is firmly on the bubble right now and a sweep of the Los Angeles schools would do wonders for their NCAA Tournament chances.
USC would lock up a top-three seed in the conference tournament with a win. The Trojans will have quite a finish to this regular season, as they’ll get No. 2 Arizona at home early next week, followed by a game across town at UCLA on Saturday.
