By means of a near-perfect nonconference slate, it doesn’t matter what was thrown USC’s means, whether or not accidents or different unexpected circumstances, the Trojans had by no means lacked for all times on the courtroom. It was that infinite vitality that had helped energy them to a 10-1 begin.
No matter it was, USC was finally in a position to shake it off Wednesday evening, turning a deficit late within the first half to a convincing, 97-70 victory over San Antonio within the second.
What checked out first like a dull enterprise become an aerial show after halftime, as USC knocked down 61% of its pictures and threw up one alley-oop after one other.
It will take a while, although, for the Trojans to get up. With 3:38 remaining within the first half, they had been nonetheless trailing the 4-6 Roadrunners, who of their final two had misplaced to Alabama by 42 and Colorado by 24.
However when the Trojans lastly turned it on, within the last minutes of the primary half, there was no stopping the onslaught. USC completed the primary half on a 13-0 run and took management from there.
Chad Baker-Mazara reacts after scoring on an offensive rebound within the first half.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
It did so in the identical vogue it had in just about each recreation since Rice went down, by leaning on Chad Baker-Mazara and Ezra Ausar.
Baker-Mazara had simply three factors earlier than halftime, earlier than exploding for 17 extra within the second half, whereas Ausar was USC’s most constant participant all through, ending with 22 factors and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Each will probably be much more vital come subsequent month, because the Trojans embark on a brutal Huge Ten slate that features three top-10 opponents over the primary two weeks and alter. That they’ll should climate that stretch with out Rice, who they briefly hoped would return someday in January, solely complicates issues.
USC is definitely planning so as to add reinforcements at level guard later this week. However changing Rice, who was averaging 20 factors per recreation earlier than his harm, received’t be so simple as simply plugging in a midseason addition from the switch portal.
The Trojans did get a stellar exhibiting Wednesday from guard Ryan Cornish, who shot 60% and scored 18 factors. He hadn’t scored greater than 5 in a recreation this season.
