The USC basketball team is still searching for a statement win this season, a performance that shows the Trojans' potential to be a factor in March.
They didn't get it Wednesday night, but they did manage to at least grind out a victory against Long Beach State.
Challenged in the second half again by a middling mid-major, the Trojans turned a 3-point lead in the final 2 minutes into a 75-65 win at the Galen Center.
Forward Nick Rakocevic led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season for the Trojans (5-2).
Derryck Thornton added 13 points, 6 assists and 3 steals, Bennie Boatwright had 13 points and 5 rebounds, Jonah Mathews scored 11 and Shaqquan Aaron chipped in 10 points.
"It was a tough game. Long Beach played very hard. We played well enough to win the game," Trojans coach Andy Enfield said. "[We] struggled at times offensively, we missed some very easy shots, we did not pass the ball as well as we have been the last few games, and defensive we were OK but we need to rebound the ball better."
USC had led 47-33 early in the second half before Long Beach State (2-6) reeled off 10 straight points to make it a tight game, as it would remain into the final minutes.
After a fast-break dunk by Aaron gave the hosts a 68-63 lead, Jordan Roberts hit a jumper for Long Beach State to again make it a 3-point game with 1:49 remaining.
Rakocevic, who is enjoying a breakout season, made his biggest impact down the stretch, though, and would quickly answer.
The 6-foot-11 junior made a nice pivot and short jumper, drew a foul on Yussuf Temidayo on the other end and Thornton followed with a mid-range jumper to make it 72-65. Thornton and Rakocevic would tack on 3 more point from the foul line while the Trojans held Long Beach State scoreless the rest of the way.
Rakocevic is now averaging 14.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per game after finishing last season at 8.1 PPG and 6.2 RPG.
"Nick's done a great job of improving every year," Enfield said. "He's had great experience the last two years on teams that won 50 games over two seasons so we hope he knows what it takes to win. He's improved defensively and he's got very good touch around the basket. ...
"I think he missed a lot of easy layups -- he probably should have had 25 or 26 points tonight. I think he missed about five or six easy buckets, so I'm sure he's not happy with that, but he certainly is our best rebounder and our best shot blocker and we need him to keep developing on both sides of the ball."
USC shot 42.2 percent from the field while holding Long Beach State to 35.7-percent shooting.
The Trojans will get their chance to score an attention-grabbing win when they host No. 5 Nevada on Saturday at the Galen Center.
"We've won quite a few games over the last three years, and a lot of those game come down to the last 4 or 5, 6 minutes and tonight was another typical game -- you have to defend and you have to execute on offense," Enfield said. "... We're confident in our players. They've won a lot of games the last few years and they're experienced. Our freshmen are getting the hang of it. They're starting to pick things up even though they missed a lot of the preseason."
NOTES: Freshman standout Kevin Porter Jr. missed another game due to a thigh injury.
They didn't get it Wednesday night, but they did manage to at least grind out a victory against Long Beach State.
Challenged in the second half again by a middling mid-major, the Trojans turned a 3-point lead in the final 2 minutes into a 75-65 win at the Galen Center.
Forward Nick Rakocevic led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season for the Trojans (5-2).
Derryck Thornton added 13 points, 6 assists and 3 steals, Bennie Boatwright had 13 points and 5 rebounds, Jonah Mathews scored 11 and Shaqquan Aaron chipped in 10 points.
"It was a tough game. Long Beach played very hard. We played well enough to win the game," Trojans coach Andy Enfield said. "[We] struggled at times offensively, we missed some very easy shots, we did not pass the ball as well as we have been the last few games, and defensive we were OK but we need to rebound the ball better."
USC had led 47-33 early in the second half before Long Beach State (2-6) reeled off 10 straight points to make it a tight game, as it would remain into the final minutes.
After a fast-break dunk by Aaron gave the hosts a 68-63 lead, Jordan Roberts hit a jumper for Long Beach State to again make it a 3-point game with 1:49 remaining.
Rakocevic, who is enjoying a breakout season, made his biggest impact down the stretch, though, and would quickly answer.
The 6-foot-11 junior made a nice pivot and short jumper, drew a foul on Yussuf Temidayo on the other end and Thornton followed with a mid-range jumper to make it 72-65. Thornton and Rakocevic would tack on 3 more point from the foul line while the Trojans held Long Beach State scoreless the rest of the way.
Rakocevic is now averaging 14.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per game after finishing last season at 8.1 PPG and 6.2 RPG.
"Nick's done a great job of improving every year," Enfield said. "He's had great experience the last two years on teams that won 50 games over two seasons so we hope he knows what it takes to win. He's improved defensively and he's got very good touch around the basket. ...
"I think he missed a lot of easy layups -- he probably should have had 25 or 26 points tonight. I think he missed about five or six easy buckets, so I'm sure he's not happy with that, but he certainly is our best rebounder and our best shot blocker and we need him to keep developing on both sides of the ball."
USC shot 42.2 percent from the field while holding Long Beach State to 35.7-percent shooting.
The Trojans will get their chance to score an attention-grabbing win when they host No. 5 Nevada on Saturday at the Galen Center.
"We've won quite a few games over the last three years, and a lot of those game come down to the last 4 or 5, 6 minutes and tonight was another typical game -- you have to defend and you have to execute on offense," Enfield said. "... We're confident in our players. They've won a lot of games the last few years and they're experienced. Our freshmen are getting the hang of it. They're starting to pick things up even though they missed a lot of the preseason."
NOTES: Freshman standout Kevin Porter Jr. missed another game due to a thigh injury.
