Such little had gone in accordance with plan by way of this maddening mess of a Sunday matinee, from its copious scoring slumps to the umpteen alternatives blown by each groups, however 39 minutes and 40 seconds of slogging by way of one among its stranger video games in current reminiscence had nonetheless left USC with Boogie Ellis dribbling close to midcourt, and the ultimate seconds ticking down in a tied recreation the Trojans had, for a lot of the afternoon, tried their greatest to squander.
So many different possibilities had already slipped from their grasp Sunday that every of these ultimate seconds handed in anxious succession, the entire of Galen Middle holding its breath. Even Ellis had missed a baseline jumper simply 30 seconds earlier to presumably take the lead. However after a wierd, sloppy afternoon, all No. 17 USC wanted was for one ultimate shot to fall, hopefully erasing the principally disagreeable affair that got here earlier than it.
That ultimate shot, too, appeared destined to overlook when Ellis lifted off, fading away on the free-throw line with little area to function between Washington State defenders. It hit off the again iron earlier than falling fortuitously ahead into the ring, permitting USC (23-4, 12-4 Pac-12) to flee amid the mess with a 62-60 victory over Washington State (14-12, 7-8).
“We have been lucky to tug this one out,” stated USC coach Andy Enfield.
For Ellis, it wasn’t a lot luck as intestinal fortitude. It was the actual form of massive second he’d talked all season of getting at USC, one that may assist cement his place in his new program. The switch from Memphis had been a steadying hand for the Trojans all season, however no efficiency was arguably extra vital this season than the one he put collectively Sunday.
Ellis scored a season-high 21 factors, capping the heroic efficiency together with his first buzzer-beater. It couldn’t have come at a greater time for USC, which now faces three of the Pac-12’s prime 4 groups over its ultimate 4 regular-season video games.
“We reside for these moments,” Ellis stated of his shot.
However earlier than that ultimate second of elation got here many others which may have in any other case performed the Trojans in on any regular afternoon.
Twice, USC went six or extra minutes and not using a area purpose. Its traditional dominance within the paint disappeared. Its transition recreation was nonexistent. USC was outworked on the glass, 41-34, and outdone behind the arc, the place Washington State hit 15 three-pointers, greater than any group had hit towards USC all season.
These stat strains, sans context, would seemingly guarantee USC of defeat. However the remainder of the field rating informed a barely completely different story, one even Enfield joked was onerous to consider.
“This,” he stated, “is a singular field rating.”
Whereas Washington State practically buried USC in a barrage of three-pointers, it struggled to do a lot of something contained in the paint, the place the Trojans protection has been greatest all season. The Cougars hit simply 5 of their 32 makes an attempt contained in the arc, whereas flattening thrice as many pictures from lengthy vary.
The plan had been to maintain Washington State from beating USC deep. As an alternative, the Trojans went the way more tough route, utterly shutting the Cougars out of the paint.
USC didn’t do a lot better inside. However at the same time as Washington State pulled in 16 offensive rebounds, it scored on simply two of these second-chance alternatives.
“The primary factor was to cease them from threes,” stated ahead Max Agbonkpolo, who contributed 10 factors off the bench. “It’s robust after they’re scorching like that.”
Each groups fell sufferer to extended chilly stretches, the worst of which got here for USC simply after the second half started. Drew Peterson, who added 17 factors, hit a three-pointer to open the half, lending some hope that USC would burst out of its hunch and barrel previous the Cougars quickly sufficient.
However for the subsequent seven minutes, the Trojans didn’t hit a single shot from the sector as Washington State climbed out to an eight-point lead.
“We at all times say our protection has to hold us when now we have stretches like that offensively,” Enfield stated.
The protection would clamp down simply sufficient, because the Cougars hit only one shot within the ultimate six minutes — and solely one among their ultimate six three-point makes an attempt.
For Ellis, it was all of the wiggle room he would want to assist USC escape.
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