Usc Basketball Fumbles Lead, Suffers Devastating Loss To Oregon

A play of frustratingly unfortunate events for USC had led here, to this nightmarish crescendo astatine nan one-minute people Saturday, successful a must-win matchup.

Through a roller coaster afternoon, nan Trojans had navigated 1 activity aft another, riding respective basking streaks and surviving nan acold ones, knowing afloat good that their NCAA tourney hopes hinged connected a triumph complete Oregon, 1 of nan Big Ten’s worst teams.

All that accent seemed to subside arsenic USC took a six-point lead pinch 70 seconds remaining. Any logical onlooker would presume that nan Trojans had held connected for good, dispatching of nan Ducks.

But past Oregon scored connected a layup. It stole nan shot back. And it deed a 3 pointer.

USC coach Eric Musselman reacts aft a play during nan Trojans’ nonaccomplishment to Oregon Saturday astatine nan Galen Center.

(Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

USC clung to a one-point lead arsenic freshman Alijah Arenas stepped backmost for a jumper that clanged away. Kam Woods missed a tip. Then, Oregon sewage nan shot backmost and drew a foul.

Two free throws from Oregon’s Nate Bittle dealt USC 1 final, unbelievable rustle to their Saturday — and possibly their play — handing nan Trojans a devastating 71-70 loss.

Their hopes of making nan NCAA tourney aren’t needfully dormant arsenic of Saturday. Four games still stay for nan Trojans to build their lawsuit earlier nan Big Ten tournament. But 2 of those travel against UCLA and different against Nebraska, 1 of nan champion teams successful nan Big Ten this season.

USC had hoped Chad Baker-Mazara‘s return from wounded would thief assistance them to a triumph Saturday. Baker-Mazara led each scorers pinch 21, but he besides fouled retired late, during that last possession.

Arenas struggled astir of nan afternoon, earlier scoring 11 successful nan 2nd half. But it was his turnover successful nan last seconds that yet handed Oregon nan win

Baker-Mazara hadn’t played since nan opening of February, and successful back-to-back losses to Illinois and Ohio State, nan Trojans undoubtedly missed his spark. If not for a precocious crippled victor successful State College from Arenas, they would’ve dropped each 3 games played without Baker-Mazara.

The circumstances yet near USC successful a must-win script Saturday, if it hoped to proceed clinging to nan separator of nan NCAA tourney bubble. Oregon had, connected nan different hand, spent astir of nan play successful nan Big Ten cellar. It entered Saturday’s matinee pinch losses successful 11 of its past 12 games.

There was nary specified urgency successful Baker-Mazara upon his return. The sixth-year elder sang and danced his measurement done warm-ups, earlier opening nan crippled connected a stationary motorcycle successful nan area of nan arena.

But upon checking in, he jolted nan Trojans discourtesy to life pinch 13 consecutive points.

The boost Baker-Mazara provided yet ran retired of gas. USC deed conscionable 3 of its its last 14 shots earlier halftime, and Oregon stormed retired successful front.

The Ducks did nan aforesaid successful nan 2nd half, albeit successful overmuch much devastating fashion, leaving USC pinch a overmuch harder roadworthy ahead.