LOS ANGELES -- To excel in athletics, one has to have a short memory to
forget about the negative that just occurred and focus on what needs to be done
next to prevail in competition. This is exactly what Chimezie Metu did as he
teamed up with Jordan McLaughlin on the game winning play in the USC Trojans 72-70
win over the Oregon Ducks Thursday night at the Galen Center.
"After I missed the two free throws, we just had to
go down and get a stop. There was no time to sit and sulk," said Metu.
"We have to go down and get a stop. We didn't get a stop. My mentality
changed when we called a timeout. My teammates and coaches were telling me to
'stay in the game, stay in the game.' I did that and got the game-winning
basket. It felt good."
The win improves USC's record to 9-5 in Pac-12 play,
which is good for second place in conference, and 19-9 overall.
"This was a huge win for us because we need every
game down the stretch," said a jubilant Andy Enfield, after the game.
"We have four games left. We have to hold our home court advantage. Right now,
we are 6-1 at home. We have to focus on Saturday night and play with the same
kind of energy."
With the game knotted at 70, McLaughlin was double-teamed
on the right side of the floor as clock was ticking toward zero, he then found
Metu cutting to the rim and tossed the ball up for a game-winning, redeeming
alley oop layup.
"I'm always aware of the clock," said
McLaughlin. "Coach wanted us to run it at six seconds. So, coming off the
ball screen, I dragged it. Took a couple of dribbles and threw the lob."
Early on, Oregon looked like they were going to run away
with the game as they jumped out to a seven-point lead, midway through the
opening half. However, the Trojans weathered the storm as Metu scored five quick
points out of a timeout to right the ship.
Chimezie Metu led the Trojans with 10 points at the half
and no other player having more than six. Jordan McLaughlin, a Cousy Award
finalist, dished out five assists in the first half.
There were four lead changes in the first half compared
to 11 in the second. Oregon led by one, 29-28 at the break. The bulk of the
Ducks points were produced by Payton Pritchard and Mikyle McIntosh with 10 each
at halftime. McIntosh finished with 23 and Pritchard scored 17.
Both teams scored at a higher efficiency in the second
half as they each surpassed their first half scoring output, 12 minutes into
the half. Especially McIntosh, who came out of the break hot and continued
getting buckets, as he scored the Ducks' first five points of the second half.
Not to be overlooked is the production the Trojans got
from Jonah Mathews, who soon joined the party as he quickly drained two from
behind the arc to help the home team keep pace right after halftime. He scored
14 of his team-leading 20 points in the latter stanza; Mathews made five
three-pointers in the game.
"We decided to put him back in the starting lineup
because he had been playing so well lately," said Enfield about Mathews.
"He just played terrific."
Both Metu and McLaughlin produced double-doubles on the
night; Metu with 18 points and 10 boards, McLaughlin with 11 points and the
same amount of assists to match.
The game might have had a different outcome if not for Elijah
Stewart secured an offensive rebound with the Trojans trailing 67-68 with 1:38
left on the clock. Later in that possession, Stewart received a pass from Metu
in the left corner and nailed a three to give the Trojans a 70-68 lead with a
minute and a half remaining. The stage was then set for the closing act.
Former Trojan and NBA All-Star Demar Derozan, who is in
town for the NBA All-Star Game visited with the young Trojans before the game
and gave a few words of encouragement.
Bennie Boatwright went down with a leg injury at the 7:57
mark. Coach Enfield said he would be evaluated Friday morning.
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