USC endures frustrating night but survives Idaho State

Nov 4, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans forward Harrison Hornery (30) and forward Jalen Shelley (9) battle for the ball with Chattanooga Mocs guard Parker Robison (55) in the second half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC basketball started its season with a bang on Monday in a blowout of Chattanooga. The second game of the young season was a lot harder to watch. Thankfully, the Trojans were at least able to get a win, but there’s plenty to be concerned about after the 75-69 escape against Idaho State.

USC was favored by 23.5 points but went down to the wire, leading by only one point with 46 seconds left before Saint Thomas hit a decisive 3-pointer to rescue the Men of Troy. It was a night when hardly anything went right, but USC got the bottom-line result it needed. A loss to Idaho State would have been a hugely damaging result for the Trojans’ NCAA Tournament resume. That loss would have followed them all the way to Selection Sunday. USC avoided that stain and can try to figure out how to get better.

The first thing we have to mention about Thursday’s game in the Galen Center is how many injuries USC sustained. Matt Knowling got hurt. Jalen Shelley got hurt. Terrance Williams still wasn’t able to play; he missed the Chattanooga game as well. USC was shorthanded, and it showed.

USC also missed over 10 free throws and hit just 5 of 20 3-point shots. Those bad shooting numbers recalled the Andy Enfield era. The Trojans can’t continue to be that bad from the foul line and the 3-point arc.

Winning in spite of all those negative developments? It’s more of an achievement than some might think. The main thing: USC has to get healthy. The Trojans need their best players on the floor. That is their most direct path to improvement.

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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC endures frustrating night but survives Idaho State

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-endures-frustrating-night-survives-170820071.html

Author : Trojans Wire

Publish date : 2024-11-08 17:08:00

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