USC
8-8,2-3Pac-12
Washington State
11-5,2-3Pac-12
USC Men's Basketball Falls To Washington State, 72-64
January 10, 2024 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES — Boogie Ellis scored 18 points, but it wasn't enough as USC men's basketball fell to Washington State, 72-64, at home on Wednesday night.
Isaiah Collier had 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting with three rebounds, but USC's star freshman checked out of the game with 12:12 remaining with an apparent right-hand injury and did not return. The Trojans also missed starting forward Joshua Morgan in the game and Ellis played with a hamstring issue.
The Trojans went on a 9-2 run to take an early six-point lead, but USC (8-8, 2-3 Pac-12) went cold for the remainder of the first half. The Trojans shot just 32.3 percent and allowed a layup with two seconds remaining that gave the Cougars (11-5, 2-3 Pac-12) a 29-28 edge at halftime.
Despite losing Collier, USC shot better from the field in the second half and regained the lead when Ellis hit a 3-pointer at the 10:01 mark, sparking a tight battle between the two teams that saw 10 lead changes in the final 10 minutes.
Retook the lead on a @BoogieEllis triple! 🎯
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) January 11, 2024
📺: FS1 pic.twitter.com/aGzA9ULMKU
Harrison Hornery made a 3-pointer with 2:16 remaining, but that stood as the Trojans' final points of the game. Isaiah Jones made two clutch layups for the Cougars and Washington State closed out the game with four free throws while USC missed its final four field goals.
Jones scored a game-high 26 points for Washington State. USC's DJ Rodman scored eight second-half points against his former team.
USC now enters its toughest stretch of the season, with a three-game road trip at Colorado on Saturday, at No. 8 Arizona on Wednesday and at Arizona State on Jan. 20. USC returns home on Jan. 27 to face rival UCLA.
