Arizona trounced by USC as Chase Jeter sits with back injury

Chase Jeter proved his worth without stepping foot on the court.

As their starting center sat out with a sore back, the Arizona Wildcats were trounced by the USC Trojans 80-57 on Thursday night in Los Angeles.

The Wildcats (14-6, 3-3 Pac-12) regressed to their baffled-by-a-zone ways, turning in their worst offensive performance of the season. USC’s long, athletic defense held UA to a season-worst 28 percent shooting and a putrid 5-for-25 mark from 3.

Brandon Randolph hit two late 3s to finish with a team-high 12 points. Ira Lee had 11.

Meanwhile, USC 7-footer Nick Rakocevic feasted on the Jeter-less frontcourt to the tune of 27 points and 12 rebounds on 13-of-17 shooting.

Arizona struggled to defend the perimeter, too, allowing the Trojans to shoot 10 for 20 from behind the arc. Bennie Boatwright and Jonah Mathews each had 12 points. Star freshman Kevin Porter Jr. returned from suspension and poured in 14 on seven shots, draining a trio of 3s.

USC (11-8, 3-3) outrebounded the undersized Wildcats, 51-39.

The lowest points of the game? They came late in the first half when Arizona had a 5-on-1 then a 4-on-1 fastbreak, but failed to get any points of it.

First, Alex Barcello missed an uncontested reverse layup:

This play pretty much sums up Arizona's first half vs. USC pic.twitter.com/XQQYke7kXU

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) January 25, 2019

Then Ryan Luther, who for some reason did not give up the ball to a host of wide-open teammates, got stuffed at the rim by Mathews:

it happened again... pic.twitter.com/1YHBH86YSm

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) January 25, 2019

After Arizona missed those bunnies — and many, many others — USC guard Derryck Thornton banked in a desperation 3 at the buzzer to make it 36-19 at the half, the Trojans’ largest lead of the period. They would extend their lead to as many as 23 in the second half.

It was that kind of night.

Arizona will try to avoid a Southern California sweep on Saturday at UCLA. A loss would drop the Wildcats below .500 in conference play for the first time since 2015-16.

Jeter gingerly went through warmups Thursday, so perhaps he will return in time for that game.

The Wildcats sure need him to.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts http://bit.ly/2FNuxyr
via IFTTT