Field Level Media
Feb 2, 2021
Evan Mobley had 23 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, leading the Southern Cal Trojans past the host Stanford Cardinal 72-66 in a Pac-12 game on Wednesday night.
It was USC's first win at Maples Pavilion since 2013. The Trojans rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit.
USC (14-3, 8-2), which won its third straight game, also got 15 points from Drew Peterson and 14 points from Tahj Eaddy.
The Trojans scored the game's final six points, including Eaddy's tie-breaking layup with 1:18 remaining and his short jumper with 29 seconds left to make the score 70-66.
Stanford (10-7, 6-5) got 22 points from Jaiden Delaire and 20 from Michael O'Connell -- both career highs. It was also Delaire's third straight game with more than 20 points.
The game marked Stanford's first game at Maples in 338 days. The Cardinal had been practicing and playing home games in Santa Clara due to COVID-19 restrictions on campus.
Stanford's Oscar da Silva, who entered the game leading the Pac-12 in scoring (19.5) and ranking fifth in the league in rebounding, was held down by two quick fouls in the first half. He finished with nine points -- the first time all season he failed to get into double figures -- and four rebounds.
The Cardinal were without three starters who combine to average 35.8 points: Daejon Davis, Bryce Willis and Ziaire Williams.
But Stanford, despite those issues and also getting just seven minutes and three points out of da Silva in the first half, led 35-32 at intermission.
O'Connell (14 points) and Delaire (11) did most of the first-half scoring for the Cardinal, who shot 53.8 percent from the floor, including 5-for-8 on 3-pointers (62.5 percent).
The Trojans took their first lead of the second half on a Max Agbonkpolo steal and dunk with 4:24 left in regulation, and Eaddy was big down the stretch.
For the game, Stanford shot 51.9 percent, including 7-for-16 on 3-pointers (43.8 percent). USC shot 47.4 percent, including 4-for-17 on 3-pointers (23.5 percent).
However, USC outscored Stanford 14-5 on the foul line, and the Trojans were plus-five on turnovers forced and plus four on offensive rebounds.
--Field Level Media