Love scores 20 points, No. 12 Arizona beats USC 82-67 for latest bounce-back win
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Kevin Durant sat in the front row. Bijan Robinson also was in the crowd, along with several current and former Arizona athletes.
The star-studded crowd filled McKale Center to get a glimpse of Bronny James and the Wildcats wanted to put on a show of their own.
Arizona won, but it was more gritty than graceful.
Caleb Love scored 20 points, Pelle Larsson added 13 and No. 12 Arizona beat Southern California 82-67 on Wednesday night for another bounce-back victory under coach Tommy Lloyd.
“Arizona basketball is a show,” Lloyd said. “I wish we would have played better for everybody tonight, but at the end of the day we got the result we wanted. It didn't feel great, but we did.”
Coming off a three-point loss at Washington State, the Wildcats (13-4, 4-2 Pac-12) overcame a nearly seven-minute stretch without a field goal to lead by 10 at halftime and stretched it to 19 midway through the second half.
Arizona had a second straight subpar shooting night, hitting 40% from the field after 35% against the Cougars, allowing short-handed USC to hang around. The Wildcats made up for it by scoring scored 22 second-chance points off 21 offensive rebounds to beat the Trojans for the 13th time in the last 14 games at McKale Center.
Arizona is 15-0 coming off a loss under Lloyd.
‘Offensively, we’ve got to go hard whether we're making shots or not," said Arizona's Keshad Johnson, who had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Trojans (8-10, 2-5) arrived in the desert on a two-game losing streak and missing their top two scorers. Boogie Ellis was out for the second straight game with a hand injury and freshman guard Isaiah Collier had hand surgery last week.
James tried to carry the Trojans, scoring nine of his 11 points in the first half despite being booed by Arizona's students every time he touched the ball.
Playing his 10th game since returning from cardiac arrest, James shot 5 of 11 and had six assists after scoring two points on a combined 0-for-14 shooting the previews three games.
“Without Boogie and Isaiah, our two primary lead guards, Bronny has done a nice job of being the primary ballhandler when he’s in the game and defending at a pretty good level,” USC coach Andy Enfield said. “I thought he started out very well tonight and we just need him to keep improving.”
The Wildcats got off to a torrid start to build an early 10-point lead before USC tripped them up by going to zone.
Unable to get good looks, Arizona went nearly seven minutes without a field goal as the Trojans trimmed the lead to four.
The Wildcats found a little bit of a rhythm late in the first half, using a 7-0 run to go up 45-35.
USC managed to keep Arizona within reach early in the first half before the Wildcats went on a 7-0 run to go up 64-46. The Trojans kept fighting despite missing two key players, but got no closer than 10 points.
DJ Rodman led USC with 16 points.
“I was proud of our guys. They competed they played hard,” Enfield said. “We made some mistakes, but we we outplayed Arizona in certain areas of the game and they outplayed us in certain areas of the game.”
LARSSON’S SCARE
Larsson went down with a left foot injury midway through the second half, slamming his hand on the floor before limping to the bench.
For someone who’s dealt with foot injuries in the past, it was a dicey moment.
“I think it scared me more than anything,” said Larsson, who had four rebounds, three assists, two steals while drawing numerous fouls.
THE TAKEAWAY
USC: The Trojans have struggled at McKale Center and playing without their top two scorers made end their desert misery a nearly insurmountable task.
Arizona: The Wildcats were disjointed at both ends for much of the night, yet found a way to win yet another game coming off a loss under Lloyd.
UP NEXT
USC: At Arizona State on Saturday.
Arizona: Hosts UCLA on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Bronny James vs. Oumar Ballo (Kylan Boswell gains possession) | |||
19:51 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point jump shot | 0-2 | |
19:51 | Oziyah Sellers shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | |||
19:51 | Pelle Larsson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
19:51 | DJ Rodman defensive rebound | |||
19:36 | Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
19:34 | Vincent Iwuchukwu offensive rebound | |||
19:22 | Kobe Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
19:20 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
19:15 | Oziyah Sellers personal foul | |||
19:13 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
19:11 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
19:06 | +3 | Kylan Boswell makes three point jump shot (Keshad Johnson assists) | 0-5 | |
18:41 | Vincent Iwuchukwu misses two point jump shot | |||
18:39 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
18:33 | Pelle Larsson misses two point layup | |||
18:31 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
18:27 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point layup | 0-7 | |
18:10 | +2 | Bronny James makes two point floating jump shot (Kobe Johnson assists) | 2-7 | |
18:00 | Vincent Iwuchukwu personal foul | |||
17:52 | Kobe Johnson shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | |||
17:52 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-8 | |
17:52 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-9 | |
17:30 | Kylan Boswell shooting foul (Kobe Johnson draws the foul) | |||
17:30 | +1 | Kobe Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-9 | |
17:30 | +1 | Kobe Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-9 | |
17:07 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point jump shot (Kylan Boswell assists) | 4-11 | |
16:52 | Pelle Larsson personal foul | |||
16:42 | Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
16:40 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
16:26 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists) | 4-14 | |
16:26 | Trojans 30 second timeout | |||
16:26 | TV timeout | |||
16:03 | +2 | Kijani Wright makes two point layup (Bronny James assists) | 6-14 | |
15:50 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 6-17 | |
15:31 | +2 | DJ Rodman makes two point layup (Kijani Wright assists) | 8-17 | |
15:31 | Pelle Larsson shooting foul (DJ Rodman draws the foul) | |||
15:31 | +1 | DJ Rodman makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 9-17 | |
15:13 | +2 | KJ Lewis makes two point layup | 9-19 | |
15:03 | Arrinten Page misses three point jump shot | |||
15:01 | DJ Rodman offensive rebound | |||
15:01 | Jaden Bradley personal foul | |||
14:56 | Harrison Hornery misses three point jump shot | |||
14:54 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
14:48 | KJ Lewis misses two point layup | |||
14:46 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
14:33 | Jaden Bradley misses two point jump shot | |||
14:31 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
14:29 | Harrison Hornery personal foul | |||
14:17 | Jump ball. KJ Lewis vs. Kobe Johnson (Trojans gains possession) | |||
14:17 | KJ Lewis turnover (lost ball) (Kobe Johnson steals) | |||
13:58 | Kijani Wright turnover (lost ball) (Jaden Bradley steals) | |||
13:50 | Keshad Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Kijani Wright steals) | |||
13:44 | Motiejus Krivas blocks DJ Rodman's three point jump shot | |||
13:42 | Trojans offensive rebound | |||
13:30 | DJ Rodman misses two point jump shot | |||
13:28 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
13:18 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
13:16 | Harrison Hornery defensive rebound | |||
13:04 | Kobe Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Jaden Bradley steals) | |||
12:58 | DJ Rodman personal foul | |||
12:45 | Kobe Johnson blocks Kylan Boswell's two point jump shot | |||
12:43 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
12:34 | Oumar Ballo misses two point jump shot | |||
12:32 | Filip Borovicanin offensive rebound | |||
12:21 | KJ Lewis misses two point layup | |||
12:19 | Vincent Iwuchukwu defensive rebound | |||
12:01 | +3 | Harrison Hornery makes three point jump shot (Vincent Iwuchukwu assists) | 12-19 | |
11:41 | Filip Borovicanin misses three point jump shot | |||
11:39 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
11:29 | Harrison Hornery personal foul (KJ Lewis draws the foul) | |||
11:29 | TV timeout | |||
11:29 | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-20 | |
11:29 | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-21 | |
11:28 | Kijani Wright turnover (bad pass) (KJ Lewis steals) | |||
11:26 | Kijani Wright shooting foul (KJ Lewis draws the foul) | |||
11:26 | KJ Lewis misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:26 | +1 | KJ Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-22 | |
11:26 | Filip Borovicanin personal foul | |||
11:03 | +2 | Bronny James makes two point jump shot (Joshua Morgan assists) | 14-22 | |
10:51 | KJ Lewis turnover (bad pass) | |||
10:45 | +2 | Bronny James makes two point layup (Joshua Morgan assists) | 16-22 | |
10:21 | Keshad Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
10:19 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
10:17 | Joshua Morgan personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
10:17 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-23 | |
10:17 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:17 | DJ Rodman defensive rebound | |||
9:56 | Kobe Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
9:54 | DJ Rodman offensive rebound | |||
9:50 | DJ Rodman misses three point jump shot | |||
9:48 | Bronny James offensive rebound | |||
9:43 | +3 | DJ Rodman makes three point jump shot (Bronny James assists) | 19-23 | |
9:21 | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | |||
9:19 | Joshua Morgan defensive rebound | |||
9:14 | Bronny James misses three point jump shot | |||
9:12 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
8:53 | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | |||
8:51 | Kobe Johnson defensive rebound | |||
8:44 | Kobe Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
8:42 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | +3 | Keshad Johnson makes three point jump shot (Caleb Love assists) | 19-26 | |
8:08 | +2 | Kobe Johnson makes two point layup (Joshua Morgan assists) | 21-26 | |
7:55 | DJ Rodman shooting foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | |||
7:55 | TV timeout | |||
7:55 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-27 | |
7:55 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-28 | |
7:29 | +2 | Vincent Iwuchukwu makes two point jump shot | 23-28 | |
7:19 | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | |||
7:17 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
7:11 | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Kylan Boswell assists) | 23-31 | |
7:02 | Kobe Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Motiejus Krivas steals) | |||
6:52 | Keshad Johnson misses two point hook shot | |||
6:50 | Arrinten Page defensive rebound | |||
6:43 | +3 | Arrinten Page makes three point jump shot (Kobe Johnson assists) | 26-31 | |
6:24 | Pelle Larsson turnover (bad pass) (Vincent Iwuchukwu steals) | |||
6:16 | Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:14 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
6:10 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
6:08 | Arrinten Page defensive rebound | |||
5:48 | Oziyah Sellers misses two point jump shot | |||
5:46 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
5:27 | Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot | |||
5:25 | Motiejus Krivas offensive rebound | |||
5:21 | Vincent Iwuchukwu blocks Motiejus Krivas's two point layup | |||
5:19 | Arrinten Page defensive rebound | |||
5:13 | +2 | DJ Rodman makes two point dunk (Kobe Johnson assists) | 28-31 | |
5:00 | Vincent Iwuchukwu shooting foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | |||
5:00 | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-32 | |
5:00 | Keshad Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:00 | Arrinten Page defensive rebound | |||
4:43 | Arrinten Page misses three point jump shot | |||
4:41 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
4:27 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point layup (Caleb Love assists) | 28-34 | |
4:27 | Joshua Morgan shooting foul (Jaden Bradley draws the foul) | |||
4:27 | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-35 | |
4:14 | +3 | Bronny James makes three point jump shot (Arrinten Page assists) | 31-35 | |
3:58 | TV timeout | |||
3:44 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point jump shot (Caleb Love assists) | 31-37 | |
3:29 | Kobe Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Jaden Bradley steals) | |||
3:19 | Jaden Bradley misses two point jump shot | |||
3:17 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
3:16 | Kobe Johnson personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
3:16 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:16 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-38 | |
3:01 | Bronny James misses two point jump shot | |||
2:59 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
2:42 | Keshad Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Kobe Johnson steals) | |||
2:34 | +3 | Kobe Johnson makes three point jump shot (Bronny James assists) | 34-38 | |
2:24 | +3 | KJ Lewis makes three point jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists) | 34-41 | |
1:57 | Bronny James turnover (bad pass) (KJ Lewis steals) | |||
1:51 | KJ Lewis turnover (bad pass) | |||
1:27 | Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
1:25 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
1:12 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point jump shot | 34-43 | |
0:57 | Bronny James misses three point jump shot | |||
0:55 | Jaden Bradley defensive rebound | |||
0:50 | +2 | Kylan Boswell makes two point layup (Jaden Bradley assists) | 34-45 | |
0:29 | Oumar Ballo shooting foul (Kijani Wright draws the foul) | |||
0:29 | Kijani Wright misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:29 | +1 | Kijani Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-45 | |
0:24 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
0:05 | Jaden Bradley misses two point jump shot | |||
0:03 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
0:02 | Oumar Ballo misses two point layup | |||
0:01 | DJ Rodman defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |