Injuries continue to haunt the Trojans in their 72-68 loss against the Cougars

USC Trojans #5 Boogie Ellis (G) driving toward the basket and being challenged by two Washington State Cougars players. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

LOS ANGELES, CA - The USC Trojans are still losing players to injuries this season and had to play without their best rim protector Joshua Morgan, and with their bench being outscored 36-16, came up short and fell to the Washington State Cougars 72-64.

Despite Boogie Ellis with 18 points, before Isaiah Collier left the game with a hand injury, with 18 points, Kobe Johnson with 9 points, DJ Rodman with 8 points, and their interior defense allowed the Cougars to score 34 points in the paint.

With all the injuries, you could tell how the Trojans came out in the first half looking sluggish, and not having enough players at practice showed during the game. DJ Rodman shared his thoughts on how tough it has been without having the whole team in practice in the video below.

Kobe Johnson and Isaiah Collier driving to the lane for layups gave USC a 4-0 lead. The Trojans led 7-5 with a three-pointer by Boogie Ellis. The Cougars were down 11-7 with a reverse layup by Miles Rice.

Washington State tied the game 13-13 with a three-pointer by Isaiah Watts at the top of the key. Isaac Jones had the Cougars trailing 16-15 with a layup.

Washington State got their first lead, 18-16, with a three-point shot by Jaylen Wells. Jones, with a put-back basket, gave the Cougars a 22-18 lead. USC tied the game 24-24 with a baby-hook shot by Kijani Wright.

USC would lead 28-27 with a jump shot by Oziyah Sellers. Washington State would lead at halftime 29-28 with a layup by Wells.

Washington State Cougars #0 Jaylen Wells (F) pulling up for a jump shot. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Wells' jump shot in the second half gave Washington State a 33-30 lead. The Cougars took advantage of their size inside with a post-up and layup by Rueben Chinyelu to take a 39-33 lead.

USC trail 40-36 with a layup by Collier. The Trojans trailed 40-38, with Johnson making two of three free throws after being fouled on his three-point shot.

The Trojans would take a 43-42 lead with a three-pointer by Ellis with 10:52 left in the game. After The Cougars went back up 45-43, Ellis, starting to heat up, would give the lead back to USC 46-45 with another three-point shot.

DJ Rodman had the Trojans up 48-47 with his left-handed layup. Ellis fouled on his layup and made his free throw to give USC a 51-49 lead. Rodman would knock down a three-pointer at the top of the key to give the Trojans a 54-53 lead with 7:09 left in the game.

Ellis, carrying the Trojans on his shoulder, gave them a 58-56 lead after making two free throws. Washington State would respond with a three-pointer on the left side of the basket by Andrej Jakimovski to take a 59-58 lead.

USC Trojans Isaiah Collier (G) is dribbling the basketball upcourt while being chased by Washington State Cougars #0 Jaylen Wells (F). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Rodman would deliver for the Trojans after dropping another three-pointer to tie the game 61-61, and the Cougars called time out. Isaac Jones would make two free throws to give Washington State back the lead 63-61.

The Trojans would regain the lead 64-63 with a three-pointer by Harrison Hornery. Jones would give Washington State a four-point lead, 68-64, with his layup with 1:17 left in the game.

The Cougars (11-5, Pac-12, 2-3) would score the last four points to give the Trojans (8-8, Pac-12, 2-3) their third loss in the Pac-12 Conference before hitting the road to take on Colorado, Arizona, and Arizona State.

Jones was the leading scorer for the Cougars with 26 points and 11 rebounds, Wells with 17 points, and Rice 12 points.