USC
21-9,10-7Pac-12
Arizona State
19-10,10-6Pac-12
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Jonah Mathews, Daniel Utomi Lead USC Men's Basketball to 71-61 Win Over Arizona State
February 29, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Features
USC's tandem of senior guards found its success from the 3-point line. Utomi (17 points) was 4-for-8 from the perimeter while Mathews (season-high 23 points) hit three of seven triples.
🗣 ONE MORE TO GO@jonah_mathews4 checks in after dropping a season-high 23 points in the win! pic.twitter.com/EZs1BjyPWQ
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) March 1, 2020
Nick Rakocevic contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds for his 11th double-double of his senior season. Onyeka Okongwu had 10 points but fouled out for the first time in his career.
USC also saw a surprise performance from grad transfer Quinton Adlesh, who hit two of three 3-pointers with two steals.
"That was a good win," said USC coach Andy Enfield. "Our 4 seniors came to play, I'm proud of them. I told our freshmen, that's what seniors do, help you win games on your home court.
"We've been winning by committee," Enfield said. "The fact that we're 21-9 is a testament to our defense and toughness. We win ugly, we win pretty, it doesn't matter. You've just got to win."
The win gave the Trojans (21-9, 10-7 Pac-12) another quality victory for their NCAA Tournament resume after defeating Arizona on Thursday. USC was considered by many national bracketologists to be on the bubble entering Saturday.
"We obviously want to get in (the NCAAs)," Mathews said. "We're not satisfied, we have more to do. Nobody is thinking we can take our foot off the gas."
USC finished the game shooting 50% (24-for-48) from the field and 45% from the field (9-of-20), though the Trojans struggled again to take care of the ball against the Sun Devils.
After allowing a season-high 24 turnovers in the first meeting on Feb. 8, USC gave up 19 turnovers on Saturday. Arizona State once again sent a full-court press against the Sun Devils throughout the game and forced several backcourt turnovers.
The Trojans had 14 turnovers in the first half, but conceded just five in the second.
"Their press is hard," Mathews said. "We handled it better in the second half. We knew we'd get a punch from them. We just wanted to make plays."
TROJANS STRIKE EARLY
After the Trojans allowed the first basket of the game to Arizona State, USC exploded on a 14-0 run that was boosted by Utomi's three 3-pointers.The run gave the Trojans the lead for the rest of the game. Arizona State cut the lead to a single point with 8:49 left in the game but Jonah Mathews went on an individual 8-2 run to help keep the game out of reach.How many threes for @KINFOLKDAN already???
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) March 1, 2020
USC leads 12-2 early on. pic.twitter.com/5RUGkTbooy
USC CLOSES SEASON WITH RIVALRY BOUT
USC hosts its final regular game against crosstown rival UCLA, who is on a seven-game winning streak after sweeping the Arizona homestand this weekend, on March 7 (12:15pm PT, CBS).Click Here to purchase tickets to the game.
