USC Trojans’ defense key in beating the Colorado Buffaloes down the stretch 68-61

USC Trojans #13 Drew Peterson (G) making a layup from the left side of the basket. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

LOS ANGELES, CA - The USC Trojans (12-5, Pac-12, 4-2) had nine block shots and finally snapped their three-game losing streak at home to the Colorado Buffaloes (11-7, Pac12, 3-4) by beating them in a tough 68-61 victory at the Galen Center.

Drew Peterson led the Trojans in scoring with 15 points, Boogie Ellis with 14 points and no turnovers, Joshua Morgan with 12 points, four blocks, and three steals, Reese Dixon-Waters with 9 points, and Tre White and Kobe Johnson both with 8 points.

I asked USC head coach Andy Enfield about finally beating Colorado at home and their defense during the game.

"To beat Colorado, you have to play team offense, because they give early help, and they are very good defensively. We tried to really pressure them, and force some turnovers, so I think our guys did a good job. We had 12 steals and nine blocks. I thought the guys did a really good job deflecting and stealing the ball."

Boogie Ellis, with his three-pointer, gave the Trojans a 3-0 lead in the first half. USC led 7-0 with a layup by Drew Peterson. Colorado trailed 7-3 after a made basket by KJ Simpson and his one free throw.

Coach Enfield was glad to see 7'1" freshman forward Vincent Iwuchukwu enter the game with a standing ovation from the crowd after he collapsed in the summer doing a workout and played for almost about five minutes.

USC Trojans #24 Joshua Morgan (F) two-handed dunk at the Galen Center. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

"Well, he's an incredible person. He's gone through a lot medically, and he's had so much support from our trainers, team doctors, our administration, and his teammates, and everybody has just tried to support him as best they can. He's got a tremendous family. They flew out here to watch him play his first game, and he has a great family back home in San Antonio. It was really special. I think he'll just get better and better.

Joshua Morgan got a lob pass from Ellis and made a two-handed dunk to give the Trojans an 11-3 lead. USC led 17-3 with back-to-back layups by Reese Dixon-Waters.

The Buffaloes trailed 18-10 with a layup by Tristan da Silva. Colorado trail 18-13 with three free throws by Javon Ruffin. Ellis would knock down a jump shot making the score 20-13.

Ruffin made a three-point shot had Colorado trailing 20-16 with 10:41 left in the first half. Kobe Johnson made two free throws giving USC a 22-16 lead. Simpson would make a three-point shot, and Buffaloes trailed by two points, 25-23, and USC called a timeout with 6:28 left in the first half.

Colorado Buffaloes #23 Tristan da Silva (F) making a layup over USC Trojans #5 Boogie Ellis (G) at the Galen Center. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

Tre White muscled his way to the basket and fouled on his layup made his free throw to give USC a 27-23 lead. Ellis made a three-pointer to give the Trojans a 30-25 edge.

Colorado tied the game 30-30 with a layup by J'Vonne Hadley. The Trojans took the lead 32-30 with a layup by Morgan. Silva tied the game again 32-32 with his layup.

Morgan would dunk the ball to give the Trojans a 34-32 lead at halftime. Morgan led USC in scoring with 9 points and Ellis with 8 points, and Peterson with 6 points. Lovering and Ruffin led Colorado in scoring, both with 9 points.

Silva would make a layup in the second half that gave Colorado its first lead, 38-36. The Trojans trailed 40-36 with a jump shot by Simpson. Peterson stole the ball and passed the ball to a streaking Ellis for a layup tying the score 40-40.

The Trojans went on a 6-0 run to lead 46-40 with a layup by Dixon-Waters. Ellis would make a jump shot, and the Trojans now led 50-42. Ruffin made a three-point shot making the score 50-45. White made a three-pointer at the top of the key to give USC a 52-45 lead.

Lawson Lovering had the Buffaloes down 52-49 with his dunk with 7:48 left in the game. White would slice his way to the basket for a layup making the score 55-47. Morgan gave the Trojans a 57-52 lead with a layup.

USC Trojans #24 Joshua Morgan blocking Colorado Buffaloes #2 KJ Simpson’s shot. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

Simpson was driving from the right side of the court going up for a layup, and Morgan came over and swatted the basketball into the stand.

Dixon-Waters would make a three-point shot to give the Trojans a 60-54 lead. Silva would knock down a three-pointer from the left side of the basket, making the score 60-57 with 3:08 left in the game.

Simpson would drive for a layup, and Colorado was down by one point, 60-59, with 1:56 left in the game. Peterson made a clutch jump shot to give USC a 62-59 lead with 1:35 left in the game.

USC Trojans #5 Boogie Ellis's (G) jump shot is being challenged by Colorado Buffaloes #2 KJ Simpson (G) at the Galen Center. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1

Colorado threw the ball away with 44.4 seconds left in the game to give the ball back to USC. Kobe Johnson went to the line with 39.4 seconds left in the game and made two free throws to give the Trojans a 64-59.

Silva made two free throws making the score 64-61. Johnson would make two free throws to give USC a 66-61 lead. Peterson would make two free throws to help secure their 68-61 win over Colorado.

Simpson led Colorado in scoring with 17 points, Silva with 13 points, Lovering with 13 points and 14 rebounds, and Ruffin with 12 points.

The Trojans did a great job of taking care of the basketball committing only nine turnovers compared to the Buffaloes committing 22 turnovers. I ask Ellis about not having no turnovers in the game.

"I mean, throughout the seasons, I think we always come to the game trying to take care of the ball. Just emphasizing not just as a point guard, but as a leader on this team. I can't turn over the ball. That's something that I can't do as an experienced elite guard. So I'll just emphasize making the game easy, taking what the defense gives me, and then making the right play. I felt like some turnovers come from me trying to force it or make the home run, but I just need to make the right play and make everything easy.

USC will play their next game on Saturday at the Galen Center against the Utah Utes (12-6, Pac12, 5-2), and it should be a good game in Pac-12 Conference play.