USC Basketball: Trojans Outlast Arizona in Overtime

USC basketball knocked off No. 7 Arizona in a quadruple overtime marathon, 103-101, moving to 14-3 on the season.

The lowdown: Arizona jumped out to a 5-0 advantage, setting the tone early. Though Julian Jacobs supplied a highlight for the Trojans by exploding to the hoop for a slam dunk in traffic, the Wildcats shot 4-of-5 from distance while also controlling the paint to always stay one step ahead in the opening ten minutes.

The Trojans inched their way closer and composed a 9-0 run, started by Jordan McLaughlin’s jumper, to take their first lead of the game with just under six minutes to play in the half.

This time when Jacobs flashed to the hoop and hammered home a slam dunk, USC maintained the momentum by building an eight point lead to end the half.

Nikola Jovanovic started off the second half with a dunk for USC, who would go on to extend their lead to ten with back to back Bennie Boatwright triples.

The double-digit lead was threatened as USC attempted to slow the game down to kill the clock. Arizona took advantage, getting a key three-pointer from Mark Tollerfsen to cut the lead to four with just over two minutes remaining after Jovanovic had a close range effort rattle in and out.

Jan 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans guard Elijah Stewart (30) reacts during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

At the minute and a half mark, Arizona’s 12-point run, including two put backs from Kaleb Tarczewski, saw them tie the game at 71 with the Trojans struggling offensively .

After traded baskets, Jacobs had a chance to end it in regulation twice. He missed a floater but got his own rebound and hit the rim at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, Arizona’s Kadeem Allen blocked shots on two consecutive Trojan possessions, giving the Wildcats the opportunity to build a three-point lead.

Boatwright tied the game from the free throw line at 77 at the minute mark after Jacobs nabbed a steal. Jacobs then hit both shots of a one-and-one to give USC an advantage once more.

Tarczewski proved to be USC’s nemesis again, scoring on another put back to tie the game and launch a second OT.

USC capitalized on a steal to start the period, but Arizona capitalized on the Trojans’ cold shooting to take another three-point lead. Boatwright and Stewart hit layups to swing it right back USC’s way following a time out but the teams ended up in deadlock on free throws.

A step back three from Allonzo Trier gave the Wildcats the quick start in the third overtime but the Trojans fought back to tie the game at 93 on two McLaughlin free throws with just over a minute remaining.

Goal-tending on a Jovanovic shot from underneath put USC in the lead before Gabe York tied it with nine seconds left.

With the battle continuing through a fourth overtime, Chimezie Metu forced a turnover which Stewart capitalized to put USC up 101-99.

Another Tarczewski offensive rebound haunted the Trojans as he hit two free throws to tie the game but Elijah Stewart drew a foul of his own and converted the game-winning points from the line.

The takeaway: USC found a new way to write the same narrative for the third game in a row, taking a commanding lead and letting it whither away in the end. Against Washington they gave up 22 points and lost the game. Against Arizona State on Thursday they conceded another lead but rode a late flurry to win by ten. Saturday night against Arizona they overcame the Wildcats early lead but couldn’t sustain their own as they fell into the same old trap.

As they did versus the Sun Devils, however, the men of Troy showed enough grit to hold on. This time it was even more impressive against a top ten squad in four overtimes.

Player of the game: Elijah Stewart; 27 points, 5-8 three-pointers and the game-winning free throws.

Stat of the game: USC was 16-of-18 from the free throw line in overtime.

Next on tap: The Trojans take a trip down the freeway to face UCLA at the Pauley Pavilion on January