The paint was clogged, a sea of knees and elbows flailing within the middle of Washington’s zone, however Chevez Goodwin was undeterred. USC’s 6-foot-10 senior ahead stood on the coronary heart of the motion, vacuuming up something in his neighborhood, slinging child hooks and slamming down dunks off handoffs, discombobulating a protection that was designed to discombobulate USC, a crew that typically struggled with its consistency from the perimeter.
However nothing may get the Trojans off observe Thursday in an 79-69 win over Washington, not whereas it was nonetheless hovering from its weekend romp over UCLA, not with their eyes now set on March and the highest of the convention.
In that sense, Washington represented an necessary check for a USC crew that’s too typically been vulnerable to letdowns. With simply six video games remaining within the common season, time is working out for USC to seek out its consistency. However on Thursday, the tell-tale indicators of a letdown had been nowhere to be discovered.
There was no painfully gradual begin and no late stoop. Whilst USC’s main scorer, Isaiah Mobley, was quiet in its return, the remainder of the Trojans offense had little hassle discovering its rhythm. As an alternative of a letdown, USC proceeded to kick the door down.
That overwhelming effort began with Goodwin within the paint, piling up early put up factors at will. With USC’s shooters gradual to start out as its offense adjusted to Washington’s zone, Goodwin was content material to hold the load early, and the Huskies struggled to cease him, regardless of their very own dimension on the inside.
“It was excellent there,” he mentioned, “form of like straightforward cash.”
Goodwin completed with a season-high 24 factors, 16 of which he scored earlier than the half. By that time, all the things had began to look straightforward for USC.
First, there was Boogie Ellis, draining his first three-point try after lacking all seven of his photographs Saturday. Then, it was Drew Peterson, following up his legendary evening Saturday with a collection of acquainted step-back jumpers 4 days later, packing the stat sheet with 14 factors, seven assists and 6 rebounds. Isaiah White even added 9 factors, sparking the Trojans along with his power in transition.
The place Saturday was a one-man present, USC’s offense was well-oiled machine on Thursday. The Trojans tallied 28 assists on 30 made baskets, sharing the ball higher than that they had all season.
“We’ve been preaching all of it season,” Mobley mentioned. It was going to take all of us. I feel that confirmed tonight.”
All of it clicked with 4 minutes remaining within the first half. Ellis hit one other three-pointer. Peterson adopted up with one other on the following possession. From there, Washington didn’t rating one other level the remainder of the half.
As USC completed the half on an 11-0 run, a modest five-point lead quickly rising right into a cavernous, 17-point gap, from which the Huskies would by no means climb out.
It was an particularly encouraging consequence contemplating its main scorer wasn’t but at full energy. Mobley returned Thursday and was clearly out of rhythm early after lacking the final two video games with a damaged nostril and concussion signs.
Fitted with a black protecting masks, Mobley was held scoreless for the sport’s first 13 minutes and largely averted contact on the inside as he discovered his footing. Mobley nonetheless completed with 12 factors and eight assists.
“It took me a second to get adjusted,” Mobley mentioned. “At first, it was like a bit discomfort. I forgot to put on it in apply yesterday, so it was my first time enjoying with it on. However I lastly found out find out how to make it as snug because it might be.”
It took USC a second to get adjusted. And once they did, the Trojans regarded snug coasting to a fifth victory of their final six.
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