Click here for the game recap. (AP Photo Gallery)
- Trailing by double digits most of the second half, USC pulled within one at 50-49 as the seconds ticked down. With the shot clock nearing expiration, Dewayne Dedmon rejected a Cal lay-up attempt into the hands of Allen Crabbe whose wild fling at the bucket was ruled a three-point foul on Eric Strangis. Crabbe sank all three free throws with 8.5 seconds to go and put the Trojans at 0-1 in Pac-12 play. "We've had that happen to us four times in two and a half seasons here," head coach Kevin O'Neill said referring to bad luck endings in losses to Nebraska, Bradley (2010) and Arizona. "I thought it was a great defensive stop by our team. The call is the call."
- Maurice Jones was a one-man offensive show in the final 10 minutes as he scored 13 of his game-high 17 points in the second half. "He just took over again," O'Neill praised his star. "I was really impressed with his game tonight and how hard he played." Jones carried the Trojans in the face of man-to-man defense from Cal's Jorge Gutierrez who is considered the best on ball defender in the Pac-12.
- As conference play begins, the Trojans will have a size advantage against nearly every opponent with seven-footers Dewayne Dedmon and James Blasczyk, but can they make it pay off? The big men were extremely active tonight, totaling 18 offensive rebounds as a team, but they could not convert second chance opportunities. "None of those guys have ever played before, so they are starting to get a feel for going to the glass," O'Neill said. "A lot of positives from the game tonight and something we've got to carry forward."
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- Kevin O'Neill on his team's effort: "I have been proud of the effort of our team all year long except for the Kansas game and the second half of the Cal Poly game." The Trojans have lost five games by six points or less.
Here's Maurice Jones, who had a big game at Cal last season as well...
