Los Angeles, CA – USC’s comeback bid came up short on a night where they struggled shooting from three-point range and failed to make a free throw for the first time in school history.
“I’ve never been in a game where we didn’t make a free throw,” USC coach Andy Enfield said. “I don’t know what to tell you. We also missed wide open 3s. We had open looks. We have to shoot better to beat a team like Oregon State.”
Stephen Thompson Jr. and Kylor Kelley scored 15 apiece to help Oregon State to a 67-62 win over USC Saturday at the Galen Center.
USC trailed most of the game but came back to take a 56-55 lead with 3:54 left in the second half. The Beavers went on a 10-0 run to take control of the game in the final three minutes.
“It was a tough loss on senior day,” Enfield said. “I appreciate what our seniors have done. It’s a tough way to go out on our home court.”
Jonah Mathews led the Trojans with 15 points and senior Bennie Boatwright scored 13 points. Senior Shaqquan Aaron had 12 points, 7 rebounds and five assists in his last career game at the Galen Center.
“I’ve been blessed to play here four years,” Boatwright said. “You win games and you lose games. I thought I was going to get emotional, but I didn’t. I saw my family there and the fans, it was a good feeling.”
Aaron did his best to keep the Trojans close in the first half, scoring seven points on 3-of-3 shooting with five rebounds, two assists and a block as they headed into halftime down, 31-27.
Freshman Kevin Porter Jr. had his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-best 10 rebounds. He scored nine of his points in the second half.
USC will finish the season with three road games, including crosstown rival UCLA on Thursday, Feb. 28 at Pauley Pavilion
