SoCal Sweep: Oregon follows UCLA upset with win vs No. 5 USC
AP
Jan 16, 2022
LOS ANGELES (AP) Oregon Ducks's Dana Altman has accomplished plenty in his 37 years as a college basketball coach. He added a new one to his list Saturday night.
Altman's Ducks became the first team in 46 years to knock off two top-five teams on the road within a five-day span, beating No. 5 Southern California Trojans 79-69 behind Will Richardson's career-high 28 points.
De'Vion Harmon had 16 points and N'Faly Dante added 12 for Oregon (11-6, 4-2 Pac-12), which has won five straight, including an 84-81 win over third-ranked UCLA on Thursday.
The Ducks are the first team since Clemson in January of 1976 with two wins over top-five teams on the road in such short order, according to ESPN Stats & Information. They are the first to do it in the Pac-12.
''We needed a big week. Our guys knew that. I've been talking about a sense of urgency since the Baylor game and how we didn't have any more room for error,'' Altman said. ''I haven't seen anything like it, but we needed something to jump start us.''
The Ducks took control early and led throughout. They were up 16 at halftime and extended their lead to 18 early in the second half. USC, which was playing its third game in five days, was only able to get within nine during the final 20 minutes.
Southern California came into the game fourth nationally in field goal defense, holding opponents to 36.6% shooting. Yet the Ducks hit their first four and nine of their first 13 en route to going 29 of 58 (50%) from the floor.
''USC made a couple runs, but we were able to keep pushing, playing hard and sticking to what we do. The trust between the team has grown the past couple of months,'' Harmon said.
Boogie Ellis and Isaiah Mobley led the Trojans with 18 points apiece. USC (14-2, 4-2) has dropped two of its last three after opening the season with 13 straight wins.
Richardson had five of Oregon's 10 3-pointers as it shot 10 of 21 from beyond the arc. The Ducks also had a 34-30 advantage in points in the paint, with 14 of their 19 two-point field goals being either dunks or layups.
Oregon took control early when it went on a 13-3 run to take an 18-8 lead five minutes into the game. The Ducks hit three 3-pointers during the spurt, including two by Richardson.
Ellis hit two straight shots from beyond the arc to pull the Trojans within 32-27 with 4:01 remaining before the Ducks closed the half with a 13-2 spurt to take a 45-29 advantage. Richardson had eight points during the late run, and Eric Williams Jr. scored five.
The Ducks extended their lead to 55-37 five minutes into the second half. Chevez Goodwin got the Trojans within nine on a free throw with 4:54 remaining, but they could not draw any closer.
''Oregon played a very high level of offense in the first half. In the second half, we played better and harder, but when you're down 16 (at halftime), it's not easy against a quality team,'' USC coach Andy Enfield said.
BIG PICTURE
Oregon: The Ducks had a 6-6 record in late December but have regained their stride and could make a bid to jump back into the rankings after a strong performance this week.
''I still think we've got so much room to grow into. I think our execution can get so much better,'' Altman said.
USC: The Trojans are likely to drop out of the top 10 after struggling in all three games. They needed a late run in the second half to beat Oregon State on Thursday. USC is 2-2 since it had a 19-day layoff due to COVID-19.
''The lack of practice hurt us, but our players have to figure it out,'' Enfield said.
UP NEXT
Oregon: Hosts Washington State on Thursday.
USC: Travels to Colorado on Thursday.
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1st Half
ORE
Ducks
45
USC
Trojans
29
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
N'Faly Dante vs. Chevez Goodwin (Jacob Young gains possession)
19:46
+2
Jacob Young makes two point jump shot (N'Faly Dante assists)
2-0
19:46
Max Agbonkpolo shooting foul (Jacob Young draws the foul)
19:46
+1
Jacob Young makes regular free throw 1 of 1
3-0
19:22
+2
Isaiah Mobley makes two point hook shot
3-2
18:57
+2
N'Faly Dante makes two point layup
5-2
18:50
+3
Boogie Ellis makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Mobley assists)
5-5
18:23
+2
De'Vion Harmon makes two point jump shot
7-5
18:13
Isaiah Mobley turnover (lost ball) (Jacob Young steals)
18:04
+3
Will Richardson makes three point jump shot (Jacob Young assists)
10-5
18:03
Trojans 30 second timeout
17:34
Chevez Goodwin turnover (traveling)
17:22
Will Richardson misses two point jump shot
17:20
Will Richardson offensive rebound
17:18
De'Vion Harmon misses three point jump shot
17:16
N'Faly Dante offensive rebound
17:12
+2
N'Faly Dante makes two point layup
12-5
16:58
Boogie Ellis misses two point jump shot
16:56
Quincy Guerrier defensive rebound
16:36
Jacob Young turnover (lost ball)
16:40
Boogie Ellis misses three point jump shot
16:38
Drew Peterson offensive rebound
16:36
+3
Isaiah Mobley makes three point jump shot (Drew Peterson assists)
12-8
16:17
+3
Will Richardson makes three point jump shot (De'Vion Harmon assists)
15-8
16:00
Chevez Goodwin misses two point layup
15:56
Ducks defensive rebound
15:58
TV timeout
15:42
Quincy Guerrier misses two point hook shot
15:40
Chevez Goodwin defensive rebound
15:13
Ethan Anderson misses two point jump shot
15:13
Isaiah Mobley personal foul
15:00
+3
De'Vion Harmon makes three point jump shot (Jacob Young assists)
18-8
14:47
N'Faly Dante shooting foul (Isaiah Mobley draws the foul)
14:47
+1
Isaiah Mobley makes regular free throw 1 of 2
18-9
14:47
+1
Isaiah Mobley makes regular free throw 2 of 2
18-10
14:17
De'Vion Harmon misses two point jump shot
14:15
Isaiah Mobley defensive rebound
13:50
N'Faly Dante blocks Chevez Goodwin's two point jump shot
13:48
Trojans offensive rebound
13:45
Trojans turnover (shot clock violation)
13:15
+2
Will Richardson makes two point jump shot
20-10
12:56
+2
Boogie Ellis makes two point jump shot
20-12
11:40
Will Richardson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:40
+1
Will Richardson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
23-15
11:40
+1
Will Richardson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
23-15
11:20
Franck Kepnang blocks Boogie Ellis's two point layup
11:18
Trojans offensive rebound
11:14
Ethan Anderson misses three point jump shot
11:10
Trojans offensive rebound
11:06
Reese Dixon-Waters misses three point jump shot
11:04
Franck Kepnang defensive rebound
10:39
Eric Williams Jr. misses three point jump shot
10:37
Franck Kepnang offensive rebound
10:35
+2
Franck Kepnang makes two point layup
25-15
10:23
Drew Peterson misses two point jump shot
10:21
Jacob Young defensive rebound
10:17
Jacob Young offensive foul
10:17
Jacob Young turnover
10:17
Ethan Anderson personal foul
10:14
De'Vion Harmon turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah White steals)
10:08
+2
Isaiah White makes two point dunk
25-17
10:03
Isaiah White blocks Will Richardson's two point layup
10:00
Drew Peterson defensive rebound
9:52
Isaiah White misses three point jump shot
9:50
Ducks defensive rebound
9:38
Will Richardson misses two point layup
9:36
Isaiah White defensive rebound
9:28
Isaiah Mobley misses three point jump shot
9:26
Rivaldo Soares defensive rebound
9:04
+3
De'Vion Harmon makes three point jump shot (Will Richardson assists)
28-17
9:04
Isaiah White turnover (lost ball) (Will Richardson steals)