No. 17 USC splashed its way to a 89-71 victory over Arizona State Wednesday at Galen Center, shooting above 50% from both the field and 3-point range, at 54% and 55% respectively.
Freshman forward Evan Mobley produced impeccably on both ends of the floor, leading the team with 22 points and seven assists in addition to nine rebounds and three blocks. Sophomore forward Isaiah Mobley finished with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting from the field.
Head coach Andy Enfield understood the value of these forwards’ performances.
“Having two bigs that are skilled is a luxury … they [can] space the floor, read the defense, and pass the ball at the appropriate time,” he said. “We are very fortunate [to have them].”
The Trojans will retain their first place standing in the Pac-12 as the team advances to an 18-3 overall record, including 12-2 in conference play. If USC can keep its momentum, the Trojans could have a shot at their first Pac-12 regular season title since 1985.
The Trojans are already showing consistency as this is their second win over ASU this season, after beating out the Sun Devils 73-64 in Tempe last month.
Neither team could miss a shot during the first half. Arizona State shot 56% overall and a scorching 67% from 3-point range. The Trojans matched that marksmanship with 58% shooting from the field and 60% from beyond the arc.
Redshirt senior guard Tahj Eaddy came out hot in the first half, navigating through the Sun Devil defense to find his scoring spots on the floor. Through 3-of-4 shooting from distance and 6-of-9 shooting overall, Eaddy posted the first 15 points in the first half of play.
Arizona State senior guard Remy Martin entered the game leading the Pac-12 in scoring with 19.2 points per game. He matched Eaddy step-for-step in the first half, totaling 15 points of his own. Martin mirrored this performance in the second half en route to a game-high 30 points.
The first half shootout ended with a 46-44 lead favoring the Trojans.
USC established a new precedent to begin the second half. To summarize the first four possessions after halftime: ASU turnover, Isaiah Mobley layup, USC defensive stop, Evan Mobley three. This opening stretch encompasses everything the second half displayed: defensive dexterity from the Trojans and brotherly dominance from the Mobleys.
The synergy of the Mobley brothers elevated in the second half. Evan showcased his ability as a facilitator, finding Isaiah in the paint for multiple highlight-reel dunks. The Mobley brothers almost outscored Arizona State entirely by themselves in the second half, as they combined for 26 points while the Sun Devils recorded 27.
“In the second half, especially down the stretch, we knew what was at stake,” Isaiah said. “We also keyed in on [the] details, and that carried us defensively through the rest of the game.”
USC closed out this game with hustle plays down the stretch. The Trojans entered the match with the 15th best rebound margin in the country, out-boarding their opponents by eight rebounds a game. This game’s differential of 10 rebounds came from tough offensive plays from both Mobley brothers, which ignited junior guard Drew Peterson to hit timely jump shots late in the game.
With four players in double-digit scoring and 21 total assists, USC earned this seventh straight victory as a unit.
The Trojans will look to build on this performance when they face Arizona Saturday at Galen Center.