USC downs No. 5 Arizona 78-65 behind 19 points each from DJ Rodman and Kobe Johnson
LOS ANGELES (AP) With a rollercoaster regular season behind them, the Southern California Trojans are finally rolling in March - the way many thought they would all along.
DJ Rodman and Kobe Johnson scored 19 points each in a 78-65 victory over No. 5 Arizona on Saturday night, giving the Trojans their first three-game winning streak of the season.
“To be able to win this game at this time of year, especially with the season we had, I feel like this is exactly what we needed,” Johnson said. “This is the perfect boost to get us going into the Pac-12 tourney.”
The Wildcats (24-7, 15-5 Pac-12) clinched their 18th regular-season league title outright at UCLA on Thursday and had won 10 of 11 coming in.
But the Trojans (14-17, 8-12) stopped Arizona cold.
With leading scorer Boogie Ellis having an off night offensively, USC got big efforts from Johnson (six of USC's 15 steals), Rodman (seven rebounds) and freshman Isaiah Collier, who finished with 16 points and five assists. Ellis had only five points on 1-of-8 shooting.
“Beating Arizona is always fun,” Rodman said. “It feels good to be undefeated in March even though we’re just starting.”
Johnson hit a 3-pointer, Collier made a pair of free throws and Rodman scored on a tip-in for a 60-49 lead.
Buoyed by loud chants of "U of A! U of A!", the Wildcats answered with a 3-pointer from Keshad Johnson and a dunk by 7-foot Oumar Ballo to get within six. That was as close as they'd come the rest of the way.
USC's defense held Pac-12 player of the year candidate Caleb Love to a season-worst 2 points on 1-of-10 shooting. He missed all six of his 3-point attempts in only his second single-digit scoring effort of the season.
“We tried to pressure him, tried to make him take tough shots, which I think we did perfectly,” Kobe Johnson said. “We knew coming into it right away we needed to be the more physical team.”
Ballo and Keshad Johnson scored 17 points apiece for the Wildcats, who committed 18 turnovers that led to 17 points for the Trojans. Ballo had 10 rebounds.
The Trojans closed the game on an 11-6 run, limiting Arizona to just three field goals in the final three minutes. Collier had the crowd in a tizzy with a one-handed jam and Joshua Morgan followed with a slam of his own. USC made 16 of 18 free throws overall.
USC ended a six-game skid against the Wildcats, who beat the Trojans 82-67 in Tucson in January. It was third-year Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd's first loss to USC in six games.
“It shows we can compete with anybody,” Johnson said.
Rodman added, “We can beat anyone."
Neither team led by more than five in the first half, which ended with Bronny James dribbling the clock down and hitting a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining for a 34-30 lead. He later had a steal and a slam dunk. His father, LeBron James, took it in from a courtside seat. The younger James had five points and six rebounds in 19 minutes.
“This is the best he’s played in a while. He got two rebounds above the rim,” coach Andy Enfield said. “We don’t win this game without our bench coming in and giving us great minutes.”
BIG PICTURE
Arizona: The Wildcats are looking to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and make a deep run behind a strong senior contingent that includes North Carolina transfer Love, Ballo, San Diego State transfer Johnson and Pelle Larsson.
USC: After a school-record four consecutive 20-win seasons, the Trojans fell off the cliff. They have regained some momentum along a rocky road that included a six-game skid in January and early February. They'll lose fifth-year stalwart Ellis, graduate transfer Rodman and senior Morgan. It's possible Collier and James could decide to leave early.
UP NEXT
Arizona: The Wildcats are the top seed for the Pac-12 Tournament next week in Las Vegas and will play a quarterfinal game Thursday.
USC: The Trojans will play a first-round game in the Pac-12 tourney Wednesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Oumar Ballo vs. Joshua Morgan (Kylan Boswell gains possession) | |||
19:42 | +2 | Caleb Love makes two point layup | 2-0 | |
19:24 | +2 | DJ Rodman makes two point layup (Kobe Johnson assists) | 2-2 | |
19:04 | Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot | |||
19:02 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
19:00 | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | |||
18:57 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
18:52 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
18:51 | Isaiah Collier defensive rebound | |||
18:39 | Boogie Ellis misses two point jump shot | |||
18:37 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
18:29 | Kylan Boswell turnover (lost ball) (Joshua Morgan steals) | |||
18:13 | Isaiah Collier turnover (traveling) | |||
18:01 | Oumar Ballo misses two point jump shot | |||
17:59 | DJ Rodman defensive rebound | |||
17:37 | DJ Rodman misses three point jump shot | |||
17:35 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
17:29 | Joshua Morgan blocks Keshad Johnson's two point layup | |||
17:29 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
17:27 | Keshad Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Kobe Johnson steals) | |||
17:02 | Joshua Morgan misses two point jump shot | |||
17:02 | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | |||
17:02 | Joshua Morgan personal foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul) | |||
16:49 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point hook shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 4-2 | |
16:35 | Kobe Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
16:33 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
16:23 | +3 | Kylan Boswell makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 7-2 | |
15:53 | +2 | Isaiah Collier makes two point layup | 7-4 | |
15:42 | Vincent Iwuchukwu blocks Kylan Boswell's two point layup | |||
15:41 | Kobe Johnson defensive rebound | |||
15:33 | +2 | Kobe Johnson makes two point layup | 7-6 | |
15:18 | Vincent Iwuchukwu personal foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul) | |||
15:18 | TV timeout | |||
15:02 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point dunk (Kylan Boswell assists) | 9-6 | |
14:33 | +3 | Isaiah Collier makes three point jump shot (Boogie Ellis assists) | 9-9 | |
14:17 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point dunk (Keshad Johnson assists) | 11-9 | |
14:01 | +3 | Boogie Ellis makes three point jump shot | 11-12 | |
13:42 | Pelle Larsson turnover (lost ball) (Kobe Johnson steals) | |||
13:22 | +2 | Kijani Wright makes two point layup (Isaiah Collier assists) | 11-14 | |
13:08 | +2 | Motiejus Krivas makes two point layup (Pelle Larsson assists) | 13-14 | |
13:08 | Kijani Wright shooting foul (Motiejus Krivas draws the foul) | |||
13:08 | +1 | Motiejus Krivas makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 14-14 | |
12:50 | Isaiah Collier misses three point jump shot | |||
12:48 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
12:44 | Isaiah Collier personal foul (Caleb Love draws the foul) | |||
12:39 | +2 | Motiejus Krivas makes two point layup (Caleb Love assists) | 16-14 | |
12:12 | Jaden Bradley personal foul (Bronny James draws the foul) | |||
12:10 | Kobe Johnson turnover (bad pass) | |||
11:54 | Pelle Larsson turnover (lost ball) (Boogie Ellis steals) | |||
11:54 | +2 | DJ Rodman makes two point layup (Kobe Johnson assists) | 16-16 | |
11:24 | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | |||
11:22 | Boogie Ellis defensive rebound | |||
11:14 | Boogie Ellis misses three point jump shot | |||
11:12 | Caleb Love defensive rebound | |||
11:07 | Caleb Love turnover (bad pass) (Bronny James steals) | |||
11:01 | Kobe Johnson turnover (bad pass) | |||
11:01 | TV timeout | |||
10:41 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point jump shot | 18-16 | |
10:21 | Boogie Ellis misses three point jump shot | |||
10:19 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
10:10 | Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot | |||
10:08 | Bronny James defensive rebound | |||
9:59 | +2 | Joshua Morgan makes two point jump shot (Oziyah Sellers assists) | 18-18 | |
9:51 | Bronny James personal foul | |||
9:41 | Jaden Bradley misses two point jump shot | |||
9:39 | Vincent Iwuchukwu defensive rebound | |||
9:37 | Motiejus Krivas personal foul (Vincent Iwuchukwu draws the foul) | |||
9:22 | Vincent Iwuchukwu misses two point jump shot | |||
9:20 | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | |||
9:09 | Jaden Bradley turnover (bad pass) (Bronny James steals) | |||
9:07 | +2 | Bronny James makes two point dunk | 18-20 | |
8:33 | Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
8:19 | Vincent Iwuchukwu misses two point jump shot | |||
8:17 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
8:08 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
8:06 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
8:06 | Vincent Iwuchukwu shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
8:06 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:06 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:06 | Joshua Morgan defensive rebound | |||
7:41 | +2 | Oziyah Sellers makes two point jump shot (Isaiah Collier assists) | 18-22 | |
7:33 | Joshua Morgan personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
7:33 | TV timeout | |||
7:33 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-22 | |
7:33 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-22 | |
7:04 | Isaiah Collier misses two point layup | |||
7:02 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
6:47 | Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot | |||
6:45 | Kylan Boswell offensive rebound | |||
6:38 | Keshad Johnson misses two point hook shot | |||
6:36 | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | |||
6:35 | Keshad Johnson misses two point hook shot | |||
6:35 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
6:24 | Pelle Larsson offensive foul (DJ Rodman draws the foul) | |||
6:24 | Pelle Larsson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:04 | Kijani Wright misses two point hook shot | |||
6:02 | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | |||
5:50 | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | |||
5:48 | Isaiah Collier defensive rebound | |||
5:43 | Caleb Love personal foul (Isaiah Collier draws the foul) | |||
5:32 | +2 | Kobe Johnson makes two point layup (Boogie Ellis assists) | 20-24 | |
5:14 | +2 | Kylan Boswell makes two point jump shot | 22-24 | |
4:52 | Kijani Wright misses two point jump shot | |||
4:50 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
4:47 | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | |||
4:45 | Isaiah Collier defensive rebound | |||
4:39 | Pelle Larsson personal foul (Isaiah Collier draws the foul) | |||
4:26 | Kylan Boswell shooting foul (Kobe Johnson draws the foul) | |||
4:26 | +1 | Kobe Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 22-25 | |
4:26 | +1 | Kobe Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 22-26 | |
4:26 | +1 | Kobe Johnson makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 22-27 | |
4:09 | Isaiah Collier shooting foul (Jaden Bradley draws the foul) | |||
4:09 | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-27 | |
4:09 | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-27 | |
3:55 | Kijani Wright turnover (bad pass) (Oumar Ballo steals) | |||
3:46 | KJ Lewis turnover (bad pass) (Kobe Johnson steals) | |||
3:34 | Boogie Ellis turnover (bad pass) (Keshad Johnson steals) | |||
3:29 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point layup | 26-27 | |
3:28 | Trojans 30 second timeout | |||
3:28 | TV timeout | |||
3:17 | Trojans turnover (10-second violation) | |||
3:02 | Jaden Bradley misses two point layup | |||
3:00 | Trojans defensive rebound | |||
2:51 | Kobe Johnson turnover (back court violation) | |||
2:33 | KJ Lewis misses three point jump shot | |||
2:31 | Harrison Hornery personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
2:31 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:31 | Kobe Johnson defensive rebound | |||
2:31 | Boogie Ellis misses three point jump shot | |||
2:29 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
2:05 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point dunk (Keshad Johnson assists) | 28-27 | |
1:48 | Oumar Ballo blocks Boogie Ellis's two point layup | |||
1:46 | Vincent Iwuchukwu offensive rebound | |||
1:43 | +2 | Vincent Iwuchukwu makes two point layup | 28-29 | |
1:35 | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point layup (Oumar Ballo assists) | 30-29 | |
1:24 | Oziyah Sellers misses three point jump shot | |||
1:22 | Jaden Bradley defensive rebound | |||
1:16 | Jaden Bradley misses two point layup | |||
1:15 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||