Jonah Mathews Hits Game-Winner, Becomes USC's All-Time 3-Point Leader in Trojans' 54-52 Win Over UCLA
3/7/2020
LOS ANGELES — Jonah Mathews was already being revered for his 3-point shooting in his final home game at a sold-out Galen Center on Saturday.
The senior captain hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 6:52 left — his fourth of the afternoon — to become USC’s career leader in threes, passing former teammate Elijah Stewart’s record with 246.
But USC desperately needed one more from Mathews in order to defeat rival UCLA.
After Cody Riley hit two free-throws to put the Bruins up by a point with nine seconds left in the game, Mathews took the inbound and controlled the possession. Mathews dribbled to the left wing and hit a step-back 3-pointer with one second remaining to put away UCLA.
JONAH. MATHEWS.
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) March 7, 2020
GAME. BLOUSES! pic.twitter.com/qyV4IihCQX
Thanks to Mathews’ clutch shot, USC defeated UCLA, 54-52, in both teams' regular-season finale to snap the red-hot Bruins’ seven-game winning streak.
“Coach [Andy Enfield] told me he was going to put the ball in my hands and live or die," Mathews said. "I said, ‘We’re going to live.' Muscle memory took over. You can only dream it like this."
The Trojans, who previously defeated the Bruins, 74-63, in Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 11, swept its crosstown rival in the regular season for the first time since 2016.
“This is an ending our guys will never forget,” Enfield said. “I’m very proud of our team.”
On an afternoon with Pac-12 and NCAA Tournament implications on the line for both schools, the rivalry game brewed into an instant classic since tipoff, as neither team led by more than five points the entire afternoon.
The first half ended with USC holding just a 24-22 lead over the Bruins. After UCLA briefly led during opening five minutes of the second half, the Trojans held the lead for much of the remainder of the game.
Then USC found itself in trouble from the free-throw line in the game’s final minutes.
The Trojans’ foul-shooting woes started to haunt them with 1:41 left when Mathews missed both tries that led to Chris Smith’s layup that brought the Bruins within a point. After turnovers from both teams, Onyeka Okongwu missed both attempts, allowing the Bruins to take the lead for a final time before Mathews closed the game.
USC finished 5-of-12 from the free-throw line, but the Trojans’ defense made up for their struggles and held the Bruins to just 16-of-51 shooting (31.4%) and UCLA’s second-lowest scoring output of the season.
"We’re very tough," Enfield said. "Our guys bought in to how we’ve taught defense. We decided to be the toughest team we could be. I’m very proud of our defensive effort. We believe we can win games next week (at Pac-12 Tournament). Our offense is very streaky, but we can win with our defense."
On top of hitting the game-winner and breaking USC's 3-point record, Mathews finished with a game-high 19 points and five rebounds.
The shot that crowned the king ?? pic.twitter.com/5Ra68KenfB
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) March 7, 2020
Okongwu had 16 points, six boards and two blocks for the Trojans. In the first meeting with the Bruins, the freshman star forward was hampered by foul trouble but found a rhythm in the rematch.
“We tried to get Onyeka the ball early, but UCLA is very good, very physical," Enfield said. "But he ended up making a few big-time plays. He played a great game."
Riley finished with 13 points for the Bruins.
SENIOR SEND-OFF
USC held a pregame Senior Day ceremony for five seniors — Mathews, McKay Anderson, Quinton Adlesh, Nick Rakocevic and Daniel Utomi.
Honored our seniors before the game.
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) March 7, 2020
Now let's win it for them!#BeatTheBruins pic.twitter.com/pbpef8MCs1
Mathews and Rakocevic are four-year seniors who both eclipsed 1,000 career points in a Nov. 12 home game against South Dakota State.
Adlesh (Columbia) and Utomi (Akron) both joined the Trojans as grad transfers over the offseason and have been in Enfield’s rotation all season.
Anderson transferred into USC from Southern Utah before the 2018-19 season. He did not appear this year due to a knee injured suffered in training camp.
USC GETS A BYE IN PAC-12 TOURNAMENT
The Trojans clinched a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament as Utah defeated Colorado, 74-72, on Saturday.
The Buffaloes’ loss ensured that USC will finish in the top four of the Pac-12 standings. While exact seedings are yet to be determined with other conference games starting later on Saturday, the Trojans will open the Pac-12 Tournament in the second round on Thursday.
