USC Trojans Outscored at Beasley Coliseum by Washington State Cougars
In a conference game that saw the USC Trojans fall short against the Washington State Cougars, the final score read 81-71. The Trojans, unable to secure a win at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, now hold their record at 0-1. Despite a strong effort in the second half where they scored 41 points compared to their first half's 30, it wasn't enough to overcome the Cougars' consistent performance across both halves with scores of 41 and 40 respectively.
The USC Trojans showcased resilience throughout the game. They dominated total rebounds with an impressive count of 43 compared to the Cougars' 30. The offensive efforts were led by their two-point attempts which stood at a successful rate of about 53 percent from within the arc. However, they struggled beyond it with only three out of eighteen three-point shots finding their mark – approximately a mere 17 percent success rate.
Defensively, USC managed four steals and blocked two shots but committed a high number of personal fouls totaling at twenty-one for the game which may have contributed to their defeat. In terms of ball handling and distribution, they recorded nine assists but also turned over possession eleven times.
The Washington State Cougars capitalized on turnovers scoring thirteen points off them and matched USC's sixteen second-chance points despite fewer offensive rebounds. Their sharpshooting was on display as they hit an outstanding near half (48 percent) of their three-point attempts contributing significantly to maintaining their lead throughout.
As for individual performances from both teams were not highlighted in this report due to lack of specific player data provided; however, it is clear that team efforts dictated this matchup's outcome.
Looking ahead for fans of the USC Trojans is another challenging encounter as they are set to face off against UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on January sixth at seven thirty PM Pacific Time. This upcoming game will be nationally broadcasted on ESPN channel two hundred six ensuring fans won't miss any action from this anticipated rivalry match-up.