Height, forced turnovers and pure team chemistry was the Trojans’ recipe for success as they took down the Washington Huskies 69-54 at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle.
The No. 20 ranked USC team got off to a slow start in the first half, going 0-for-3 from behind the arc while Washington senior guard Quade Green racked up 14 points in the frame. However, the Trojans regained command with an 18-4 run that gave them a 10-point lead going into the break.
With the Trojans unable to hit from downtown, they turned to the height of the Mobley brothers. Sophomore forward Isaiah Mobley crashed the boards all night, recording 12 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end. Along with 12 points, Mobley earned his fifth double-double of the season.
“Isaiah played a great game, I was really proud of him,” head coach Andy Enfield said. “His offensive rebounding, his toughness inside ... He’s becoming one of the best big-man defenders in our league.”
His brother, freshman forward Evan Mobley, hit 8-of-11 field goals for a team-high 17 points.
The Trojans’ 3-point shooting continued to be an issue as they ended the night just 14.3% from behind the arc. USC instead built on its lead by battling for points inside: 46 of its 69 points came from inside the paint.
“Offense first, that’s where our big guys are hard to stop,” Enfied said. “And then our guards — when they make shots, we’re awfully good. Tonight we didn’t have it going from the perimeter, but we made enough plays down the last 15 minutes to win a game.”
Defensively, the Trojans were everywhere they needed to be. They capitalized on Washington’s 14 turnovers, turning them into 17 points. The Trojans heavily guarded the 3-point line as the Huskies hit just five of their 22 attempts from behind the arc. USC also out-rebounded Washington 41-24 and picked up 12 second-chance points on 13 offensive boards.
“We challenged every shot,” Enfield said. “Made them shoot a low percentage, then we dominated the paint on offense, and I think this team starts with the defensive end.”
The Trojans’ bench, led by redshirt senior forward Chevez Goodwin, put up 15 points to help push past the Huskies. Goodwin played 14 minutes and finished with 11 points.
The Trojans improve to 16-3 overall and remain atop the Pac-12 standings, now holding the outright lead due to UCLA’s loss to Washington State Thursday night.
USC will look to extend its winning streak as the Trojans head to Pullman to take on Washington State Saturday at 5 p.m.