Can the USC Trojans Maintain Their Dominance at Desert Financial Arena?
The USC Trojans, ranked 7th, extended their impressive record to another victory with a decisive 70-55 win against the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Trojans' performance was marked by a consistent scoring effort across all quarters, putting up 18, 21, 16, and 15 points respectively in each period. On the other side of the court, the Sun Devils struggled to keep pace with their opponents despite a valiant effort that saw them score 12, 14, 13 and finally outscoring the Trojans in the last quarter with 16 points.
The game at Desert Financial Arena showcased an exceptional defensive display by the USC team as they amassed a total of ten blocks compared to just three from their hosts. The Trojans also dominated on rebounds with an overwhelming total of fifty-four rebounds; thirty-seven being defensive and fifteen offensive. This rebounding clinic provided them ample second-chance opportunities which translated into twenty-one second chance points.
Offensively for USC, field goal attempts were plenty as they took sixty-nine shots and made twenty-eight of them resulting in a forty-one percent success rate from the field. Their two-point attempts were particularly effective; out of fifty-one attempts they converted twenty-four into baskets giving them a forty-seven percent shooting rate for two-pointers. However, beyond the arc was not as fruitful for USC as they only managed to hit four out of eighteen three-point shots making it just twenty-two percent from downtown.
Free throw accuracy was shared evenly between both teams with each sinking ten free throws out of fourteen attempts which rounds up to seventy-one percent from the line. The fast break also proved advantageous for USC who scored sixteen fast break points while Arizona State managed fourteen.
USC's offensive efforts were complemented by thirteen assists but were somewhat marred by ten turnovers throughout the game; nevertheless maintaining an assist-to-turnover ratio of one point three. Points in paint were another area where USC excelled putting up forty-two compared to Arizona State's twenty-two.
Arizona State did show some resilience especially when it came down to steals where they edged out USC six steals to four and maintained fewer turnovers at six against ten from their opponents leading to an assist-to-turnover ratio of one point five.
As fans look forward towards future games after this conference victory on March second at seven PM Mountain Time Zone (six PM Pacific), there is much anticipation about whether or not this level of performance can be sustained by USC moving forward into what promises to be an exciting season ahead.