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By means of a near-perfect nonconference slate, it doesn’t matter what was thrown USC’s manner, whether or not accidents or different unexpected circumstances, the Trojans had by no means lacked for all times on the court docket. It was that limitless power that had helped energy them to a 10-1 begin.
However for some time Wednesday, that vigor was conspicuously absent towards Texas San Antonio, a workforce that misplaced 4 of its final 5. Possibly it was the setting, in a principally empty and eerily quiet Galen Heart. Possibly it was the unhealthy information from earlier within the day, as USC introduced that time guard Rodney Rice would bear shoulder surgical procedure and miss the remainder of the season.
No matter it was, USC was ultimately capable of shake it off Wednesday night time, 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 changed into an aerial show after halftime, as USC knocked down 61% of its photographs and threw up one alley-oop after one other.
It could take a while, although, for the Trojans to get up. With 3:38 remaining within the first half, they have 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 Instances)
It did so in the identical trend it had in just about each sport 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 Massive Ten slate that features three top-10 opponents over the primary two weeks and alter. That they’ll need to 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 sport earlier than his damage, received’t be so simple as simply plugging in a midseason addition from the switch portal.
The Trojans did get a stellar displaying Wednesday from guard Ryan Cornish, who shot 60% and scored 18 factors. He hadn’t scored greater than 5 in a sport this season.
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