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Oregon Basketball: Ducks Miss Opportunity In Loss vs USC Trojans

By Justin Phillips

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Isaiah White #5 of the USC Trojans is fouled by Eric Williams Jr. #50 as Amauri Hardy #11 of the Oregon Ducks looks on at Galen Center on February 22, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. USC won 72-58. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Isaiah White #5 of the USC Trojans is fouled by Eric Williams Jr. #50 as Amauri Hardy #11 of the Oregon Ducks looks on at Galen Center on February 22, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. USC won 72-58. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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Oregon Basketball is usually prepared for games they need to win, especially in a strange season like 2020. They came up short in a key game vs the USC Trojans 72-58 on Monday night.

The Ducks did not play up to par in one of the bigger games this season. They did shot 40 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three point range. Oregon saw three players in double figures with LJ Figureroa and Eric Williams Jr leading the way with 14 points. Chris Duarte finished the game with 11 points and was limited by USC to just 4 points in the second half. Oregon also fell cold at the wrong time finishing the game on an 0 for 6 shooting streak from the floor that could have made a big difference.

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For the game, Oregon Basketball committed just 10 turnovers to USC who had 16. Oregon was out rebounded by USC who did a solid job on the boards. The Trojans pulled down 39 rebounds. Oregon had just 26 for the game. I believe this was the key difference maker in the game. Without a lot of experience at the center position cost Oregon in a key Pac-12 game where rebounding came at a premium.

Will Richardson, who spend the better part of the first half of the regular season sidelined with an injury had 5 points in the loss. He was 2 for 8 from the floor. Eric Williams Jr. led the team with 9 rebounds for the game. LJ Figureroa had all of his 14 points in the second half helping cut into the USC 43-22 halftime lead.

Oregon Basketball will face the Stanford Cardinal on Thursday night. It is a game that is important to both teams. Oregon will have another chance to step up in a game that they need to win with just a handful of games remaining in the odd 2020 regular season.

Oregon and Stanford tipoff on Thursday at 6 pm Pacific Time on ESPNU.

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