USC basketball vs. Washington score, recap: Upset bid falls short

USC basketball challenged No. 1-seed Washington in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, but the upset bid fell short, 78-75.

The lowdown:

Washington grabbed hold of an early 8-1 lead thanks to Hameir Wright’s pair of threes and a pair of Elijah Weaver turnovers.

CHECK OUT: Bennie Boatwright voted All-Pac-12

It looked like the Huskies might run away with it as they built up a 14-4 advantage. However, the Trojans put together seven quick points capped by Kevin Porter Jr.’s triple to keep within striking distance at 14-11.

Three-point shooting was the big story line of the first half as Washington hit seven in the first 12 minutes en route to a 29-18 lead.

Again, USC responded well. An impressive dunk by Porter Jr. highlighted a 8-1 run as they pulled back within four.

MORE: USC doesn’t get to play the victim in admissions scandal

However, the Huskies once again made their push, widening the gap to 12 on a 10-2 run.

Bennie Boatwright came up with his first three-pointer in what had been a quiet half to stop the bleeding before Porter Jr. went up high for an alley-oop dunk to keep momentum swinging USC’s way.

The end of the half was a microcosm of the game at large. Washington’s Dominic Green nailed a corner three, UW’s ninth, with nine seconds remaining, before Porter Jr. delivered the counter punch. He pulled up for a deep buzzer-beating, banked-in three to send USC to half time trailing 43-38.

SEE ALSO: Five takeaways from the first week of Spring Camp

The Trojans came within three of the Huskies in the opening minutes of the second half, but sloppiness from both squads kept either side from maintaining control.

While the deficit hovered between three and nine through the midway point of the half, Green’s three-pointer pushed it to double-digits for the first time. Boatwright quickly answered with a triple, but that was matched by Jaylen Nowell’s shot from deep. It was Boatwright who came back with another three. With six minutes to play, USC trailed 67-60.

Matisse Thybulle got on the score sheet with a dunk only to be matched by Porter Jr.’s dunk to keep USC within four points with three minutes remaining.

Just before the clock hit one minute, Jonah Mathews nailed a three pointer, drawing the Trojans within one point.

Hope of completing the upset was short-lived however. Green’s sharp shooting continued when he knocked in his third three of the outing. Then Thybulle intercepted a pass on the other end and took it to the house, putting UW up by six again with an emphatic windmill dunk.

A missed free throw in the final seconds gave USC a hint of life, down just three, but Rakocevic sent an errant pass to the sideline and the Trojans never got the chance to tie.

Washington prevailed 78-75.

The takeaway:

USC’s 2018-19 season is officially over. The Trojans will not be receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

More from Reign of Troy

• Markese Stepp enters transfer portal intending to leave USC football
• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

They could have gone out in worse fashion though.

Credit Andy Enfield’s team for taking Washington to the wire in a performance which showed character and grit. The Trojans could have capitulated on several occasions, but they found a way to fight back with big performances from the likes of Porter Jr., Boatwright, Rakocevic and Mathews.

Porter Jr., Rakocevic and Mathews tied for the team lead with 17 points each, while Boatwright delivered 16, plus seven assists. Rakocevic nabbed 17 rebounds as well, with Boatwright grabbing seven and Porter Jr. contributing six.

On the flip side, you could wonder what this team might have accomplished if they played with the same do-or-die mentality in games from the start of the season.

You could wonder where the team would be if they hit 10-of-12 free throws on a more regular basis.

You could also imagine how this game might have played out if the Trojans hadn’t committed 17 turnovers.

The 2018-19 squad was talented, but flawed. That’s ultimately what the final game of the season showed.

Next on tap: USC will go into the offseason preparing to replace seniors like Boatwright and Shaqquan Aaron, and perhaps more NBA departures, with the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class.