The Trojans take a thriller to move to 1-0 in the Pac-12 with Cal coming in to Galen Center on Saturday night at 8 p.m.
Click here for the game recap and box score.
Best Guard on the Floor
Kevin O'Neill game planned to shutdown Stanford PG Chasson Randle, and Jio Fontan executed it to gritty perfection. In fact, the USC point guard held Stanford's tandem of Randle and Aaron Bright to a combined 3 for 16. "No question. That's two games in a row," O'Neill explained that Fontan was the key defensively against Dayton's Kevin Dillard as well. On the offensive end, Fontan played like a true captain, taking responsibility on the final offensive possession by drawing a foul and making the game-winning free throws. "I thought he controlled the game completely down the stretch," said O'Neill. "Clutch free throws, clutch baskets, clutch plays... That's what you want your senior captain to do and he did all those things tonight."
Rebound in Rebounding
The Trojans trailed 42-33 at the half after another flat initial effort. While USC was defending decently, the Cardinal were capitalizing on second chances thanks to a 20-8 rebounding edge. Keyed by Dewayne Dedmon and Omar Oraby, the Trojans banged the boards in the second half to a 25-16 advantage. While he only played 11 minutes before fouling out, Dedmon was immense during a key second half stretch. "[Dedmon] really, really took charge of the game," said O'Neill. "He played with great energy."
Mighty Mite
Freshman guard Chass Bryan encouraged the loudest cheers of the season out of the Galen Center crowd. While he always plays with a buzzing energy, he made 5/6 shots tonight to boost his confidence. In what Fontan called "the biggest play of the game," he made an acrobatic steal to set-up his own breakaway lay-up late in the contest. "We got some contributions from some freshman that you normally don't expect in a big time game like that," said O'Neill about Bryan and also Brendyn Taylor. Fontan is impressed by Bryan's advanced "understanding" of the game and how he has "soaked up" knowledge early in his career.
And 1...
Locked Up
Bryan and Taylor were pressed into extended duty when Byron Wesley went out with apparent back spasms. Eric Wise and Dewayne Dedmon were also in foul trouble all night. "I think the adversity actually brought us together," said Fontan.
(Photos by Chris Carlson/AP)
Click here for the game recap and box score.
Best Guard on the FloorKevin O'Neill game planned to shutdown Stanford PG Chasson Randle, and Jio Fontan executed it to gritty perfection. In fact, the USC point guard held Stanford's tandem of Randle and Aaron Bright to a combined 3 for 16. "No question. That's two games in a row," O'Neill explained that Fontan was the key defensively against Dayton's Kevin Dillard as well. On the offensive end, Fontan played like a true captain, taking responsibility on the final offensive possession by drawing a foul and making the game-winning free throws. "I thought he controlled the game completely down the stretch," said O'Neill. "Clutch free throws, clutch baskets, clutch plays... That's what you want your senior captain to do and he did all those things tonight."
Rebound in Rebounding
The Trojans trailed 42-33 at the half after another flat initial effort. While USC was defending decently, the Cardinal were capitalizing on second chances thanks to a 20-8 rebounding edge. Keyed by Dewayne Dedmon and Omar Oraby, the Trojans banged the boards in the second half to a 25-16 advantage. While he only played 11 minutes before fouling out, Dedmon was immense during a key second half stretch. "[Dedmon] really, really took charge of the game," said O'Neill. "He played with great energy."
Mighty Mite
Freshman guard Chass Bryan encouraged the loudest cheers of the season out of the Galen Center crowd. While he always plays with a buzzing energy, he made 5/6 shots tonight to boost his confidence. In what Fontan called "the biggest play of the game," he made an acrobatic steal to set-up his own breakaway lay-up late in the contest. "We got some contributions from some freshman that you normally don't expect in a big time game like that," said O'Neill about Bryan and also Brendyn Taylor. Fontan is impressed by Bryan's advanced "understanding" of the game and how he has "soaked up" knowledge early in his career.
And 1...
Locked Up
Bryan and Taylor were pressed into extended duty when Byron Wesley went out with apparent back spasms. Eric Wise and Dewayne Dedmon were also in foul trouble all night. "I think the adversity actually brought us together," said Fontan.
Dwight Powell's missed tip dunk at the buzzer left Stanford in agony, while lifting USC to ecstasy.
(Photos by Chris Carlson/AP)
Leave a comment