ARIZONA BASKETBALL

USC upsets Arizona in storybook game

Feb 25, 2011, 6:14 AM | Updated: 6:18 am

The three that got away are back in Los Angeles. Kevin O’Neill faces an Arizona team he was supposed to inherit, a place he left under unpleasant circumstances.

If those storylines weren’t enough, throw in an amazing game and it was a story not even Tinseltown could create.

The USC Trojans pulled out the 65-57 upset of the tenth-ranked Arizona Wildcats behind a huge night from Nikola Vucevic and Jio Fontain at the Galen Center in Los Angeles Thursday night.

Vucevic and Fontain combined for 44 points and Vucevic added 11 rebounds.

The Wildcats’ had their 8-game win streak snapped as Jesse Perry had 12 points and Kevin Parrom added 10 in a losing effort.

Derrick Williams, Solomon Hill and Lamont Jones combined for only 20 points as they returned to the school to which they had first committed. Williams added 10 rebounds and only attempted two free throws, almost 7 off of his average.

Arizona took a 28-25 lead into the half but USC used a 13-2 run extending from the first half, finally taking a 29-28 lead with less than a minute and a half gone in the second half.

The Wildcats will travel across town to Pauley Pavillion on Saturday afternoon where they will attempt to lock-up at least a share of the Pac-10 title against second place UCLA, who remained two games back with a victory over cellar-dweller ASU Thursday night.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Basketball

T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers attempts to pass around Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York K...

Kellan Olson

Former Arizona PG T.J. McConnell continues surprising in NBA for Pacers

Former Arizona Wildcats point guard T.J. McConnell is on an unlikely NBA journey that has even seen McConnell become a playoff X-Factor.

18 hours ago

The NCAA logo is seen on the game ball during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tourname...

Associated Press

Paying college athletes appears closer than ever: How could it work, what stands in way?

A settlement being discussed in an antitrust lawsuit could cost billions and pave the way for a compensation model for college athletes.

19 hours ago

Caleb Love and KJ Lewis were invited to the G League Elite Camp....

Nick Borgia

Arizona’s Caleb Love invited to G League Elite Camp, K.J. Lewis declines

NBA draft prospects Caleb Love and KJ Lewis, who played at Arizona, were invited to the NBA's G League Elite Camp, according to a source.

22 hours ago

Tyon Grant-Foster backs down a defender...

Arizona Sports

GCU’s Tyon Grant-Foster, 2 Arizona Wildcats invited to 2024 NBA Draft Combine

GCU's Tyon Grant-Foster and Arizona's Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson were among the prospects invited Friday to the 2024 NBA Draft Combine.

4 days ago

Caleb Love...

Kevin Zimmerman

Caleb Love left off early entry list, 3 other Arizona Wildcats eligible for 2024 NBA Draft

Pelle Larsson, K.J. Lewis and Jaden Bradley were the Arizona players on the early entry list for the 2024 NBA Draft. Caleb Love was not.

7 days ago

Tobe Awaka #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers...

Arizona Sports

Tennessee big man transfer Tobe Awaka lands with Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats are adding former Tennessee big man Tobe Awaka through the transfer portal, he told On3's Joe Tipton.

8 days ago

USC upsets Arizona in storybook game