USC
10-15,4-10Pac-12
Utah
15-10,6-8Pac-12
Isaiah Collier Leads USC Men's Basketball To Wild 68-64 Win Over Utah
February 15, 2024 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES — Isaiah Collier scored a team-high 15 points and Joshua Morgan made the game-sealing block as USC men's basketball defeated Utah, 68-64, at Galen Center on Wednesday night.
Collier also dished six assists, grabbed five rebounds and tallied five steals. DJ Rodman had 12 points with seven boards and four dimes. Boogie Elliis scored 11 with four steals and Morgan finished with four total blocks.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Trojans (10-15, 4-10 Pac-12) after coming up empty in last weekend's Bay Area road trip.
GAME. BLOUSES.
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 16, 2024
📺: FS1 pic.twitter.com/PJQXvrJkKw
USC assisted on 20 of 26 total field goals while holding Utah (15-10, 6-8 Pac-12) to its second-worst shooting performance of the season at 36.7 percent.
The night proved to be eventful for the Trojans early when USC went on a crucial 12-0 run led by Collier that put USC up 16-6 at the 11:14 mark. The Trojans led 34-29 at halftime but saw their advantage vanish when Utah capped a 7-0 run with 13:05 remaining. USC responded by holding the Utes scoreless for four minutes and went on a 9-0 spurt capped by Collier's fastbreak dunk.
Zay transition slam and we're on a 9-0 run! 🍺
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 16, 2024
📺: FS1 pic.twitter.com/fQL0KVOUZ4
The Trojans struggled to shoot in the final minutes of the game with six-straight missed shots allowing Utah to get within two points with 2:01 remaining. The Utes had a chance to tie or take the lead but turned the ball over by going out of bounds with 17.5 seconds left. Utah tried storming back once more after Ellis missed the first free throw of a one-and-one opportunity, but Morgan swatted Deivon Smith's layup attempt with six seconds remaining.
Rodman grabbed the loose rebound and made a layup as time expired to seal the result for the Trojans.
Smith finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Utes, which were considered by many bracketologists as an NCAA Tournament bubble team heading into Wednesday's game.
USC continues its two-game homestand at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday night as the Trojans host Colorado on ESPN2.
MOOD pic.twitter.com/ilvAL74l6B
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 16, 2024
