USC striker Evan Mobley will play the hosts in the first half of Tuesday’s game. Mobley had 23 points and 11 rebounds in a 72-66 win. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
USC striker Isaiah Mobley (3) shoots Stanford striker Brandon Angel (23) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Stanford striker Jaiden Delaire (11) hits the basket against USC striker Isaiah Mobley (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
USC head coach Andy Enfield, center, speaks to his players during a time out against Stanford in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Stanford striker Oscar da Silva scores USC striker Isaiah Mobley (3) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
USC security guard Ethan Anderson (20) hits the basket against Stanford striker James Keefe (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Stanford striker Brandon Angel (23) fights for the ball against USC striker Isaiah Mobley (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Stanford security guard Noah Taitz (20) moves the ball against USC striker Evan Mobley (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
USC striker Evan Mobley (4) blocks a shot by Stanford guard Noah Taitz (20) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Southern California won 72- 66. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Stanford security guard Noah Taitz (20) shoots USC security guard Ethan Anderson (20) and striker Isaiah during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021 Mobley (3). (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
USC striker Evan Mobley (4) shoots Stanford striker Lukas Kisunas (32) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif. on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Southern California won 72-66. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Stanford forward Spencer Jones, 14, takes on USC security guard Tahj Eaddy (2) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif. on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 into the basket. Southern California won 72-66. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Southern California security guard Drew Peterson, 13, heads to the basket against Stanford striker Jaiden Delaire (left) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif. on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 . Southern California won 72-66 (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Stanford head coach Jerod Haase calls a game off the bench in the second half against USC in an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif. on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Southern California won 72-66. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Southern California forward Isaiah Mobley (3) will play in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021 against Stanford forward Lukas Kisunas (32) . Southern California won 72-66. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
USC security guard Tahj Eaddy drives between Stanford striker Spencer Jones (left) and security guard Michael O’Connell in the second half of Tuesday’s Stanford game. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Southern California security guard Tahj Eaddy, 2, celebrates beating Stanford at the end of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Southern California won 72-66. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)
Tahj Eaddy caught the ball past midfield 40 seconds before the end of the game, while USC men’s basketball was two points ahead of Stanford. The transfer guard with graduation had just given the Trojans this advantage 28 seconds earlier in a layup of the second chance and now had the chance to deliver the dagger.
It trickled up again, 13 seconds left on the shot clock. He hesitated, turned left, stopped, and turned into a steep fadeaway. But the acute angle didn’t matter as Eaddy’s shot rang true and put USC two ticks ahead of the clock.
It was enough for the Trojans (14-3, 8-2 in Pac-12) to score a 72-66 win and a double-digit deficit in their first win at Stanford (10-7, 6-5 ) to convert since 2013.
« Tahj has been spectacular in the final minutes, » said USC head coach Andy Enfield. “Tonight he kept his calm even though we had some difficult moments throughout the game and they took the lead. But he just kept up defensive intensity and then scored some big hits for us. “
USC center Evan Mobley led all players with 23 points and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes. Eaddy added 14 despite missing his four 3-point tries while Drew Peterson scored 15.
Mobley came out hot, showed up in opening possession, and scored nine of the USC’s first 12 points. But after the first seven minutes, Stanford put in a doubles team every time Mobley or another Trojan hit the ball in the mail. The cardinal kept the 7-foot newcomer to the USC on two points in the last 13 minutes of half.
But Mobley got away with a dozen points in the last 20 minutes without missing a second of the action. Despite being visibly tired in the final minutes, he snapped a hooked shot to score the score at 64, grabbed an offensive ricochet that resulted in a Peterson second chance basket and blocked a layup attempt by Stanford top scorer Oscar da Silva in the final 3: 14.
« Evan on Fumes is a pretty good player, » said Enfield. “There was no way we could rest him in the final minutes of the game, although he probably needed it. But he fought. »
Despite bad problems for da Silva, Stanford built a double-digit lead after three starters behind the shooters Michael O’Connell and Jaiden Delaire, who scored 25 points in the first half. The pair finished with 20 and 22 points each.
Stanford started the second half 12 for 18 from the ground but were unable to retreat due to the busy USC games. The Trojans scored 19 points less than Stanford’s 11 and won the fight for the second chance 16-2.
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So it was fitting when security guard Max Agbonkpolo intercepted a Stanford pass, taking up three-quarters of the length of the space for a two-handed dunk and a 62-61 USC lead at 4:39.
And when USC needed its defense to strengthen, he held Stanford at the 8-1 shootout to end the game. The Trojans turned on each ball screen and used their length to compensate for any mismatches.
« We had our hands full because Stanford played very, very well offensively, » said Enfield. « For the last three or four minutes, I thought our defenses were strengthened and we were challenging everything. »
With the win, USC improved to 9-1 since returning from a two-week COVID-19 shutdown and 3-2 in Quadrant 1 games, with a chance for another marquee win against UCLA No. 21 (13-3, 9-). 1) on Saturday.
Stanford played at the Maples Pavilion for the first time this season after playing all previous home competitions in Santa Cruz due to COVID-19 restrictions in Santa Clara County.
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