Los Angeles, CA – The USC Trojans set free some frustration after their powerful loss to Oklahoma final Friday by dismantling the Japanese Washington Eagles 106-78 on Wednesday evening. Boogie Ellis led the cost with a spectacular efficiency. He placed on a present for the house followers tallying 28 factors on eight made three-pointers. Isaiah Collier, Kobe Johnson, Vincent Iwuchukwu, and Kijani Wright all scored in double-digits as USC put up a season excessive in factors. Jake Kyman led Japanese Washington with 25 factors and LeJuan Watts additionally had a pleasant sport practically attaining a double-double with 16 factors and eight rebounds.
The sport began off very quick as each groups got here out of the gates firing on all cylinders. Each groups shot round 60% from the sector the primary 10 minutes of the sport and Japanese Washington stored it shut trailing solely 24-19. That’s as shut as it could get although because the Trojans actually began to drag away the remainder of the half. They went on a 17-3 run and by the 5-minute mark USC had opened up a 41-22 lead. Ellis had an unbelievable half with 19 factors and 5 made threes. For the guests, UCLA and Wyoming switch Kyman did his greatest to maintain the Eagles in it by racking up 13 first half factors however Japanese Washington actually struggled to discover a second supply of offense and went into the half trailing 52-33.
Within the second half, USC continued to open up the lead and by no means let their foot off the gasoline going up by 30 factors as the sport went into the under-16 media timeout. The massive identify that everybody needed to see is potential first total decide Isaiah Collier and he didn’t disappoint. After a really quiet first half scoring solely two factors, Collier discovered his groove and actually awoke ending with 15 factors and 6 assists. He stored his turnovers down as nicely, ending with solely two which is an efficient signal for him and the Trojans as they proceed to maneuver ahead of their season. The sport by no means received shut after the opening 10 minutes and USC coasted to the 28-point victory to enhance to 5-2 on the season.
The one side that basically stands out with Collier is his bodily body. He makes use of that body to his benefit by attending to the rim and drawing fouls at will. He’s unstoppable when he will get going to the basket. This sport needed to be very encouraging for NBA scouts despite the fact that he had a foul first half. The truth that he was in a position to keep engaged all through the period of the competition despite the fact that he had a discouraging first half is a good signal. Within the second half he stayed with it and confirmed a whole offensive sport making a 3 pointer, attending to the rim, and going 4-of-4 from the road. He doesn’t hold his head after a foul efficiency and stays engaged whether or not he’s on the bench or on the court docket.
Whereas Collier is undoubtedly the large NBA prospect on USC, Boogie Ellis was the one who had the efficiency of the evening. Ellis was pink scorching as he poured in 28 factors in 27 minutes going 9-of-13 from the sector and 8-of-10 from past the arc. If the sport was nearer there’s little doubt he would’ve gotten 30 factors and possibly even broke the 40-point mark. However with the sport being so one-sided coach Andy Enfield made the choice to take a seat him within the later a part of the sport. Ellis did an incredible job towards Japanese Washington of relocating after the preliminary move to free himself up for a soar shot. He is an outstanding score-first guard who has been extremely environment friendly in his school profession. After making First-team All-Pac-12 final season and averaging over 20 factors to date this season, Ellis isn’t on many mock drafts however might see a task on the subsequent degree as a microwave scorer off the bench. Effectivity, capturing vary, and scoring like his don’t come round fairly often on the collegiate degree.
A pair brilliant spots for Japanese Washington had been Jake Kyman and LeJuan Watts. Kyman was in a position to lose Collier and Kobe Johnson just a few occasions as he completed the sport with 25 factors on a wonderful 7-of-10 from three. He’s not the kind of participant that can fill the stat sheet, however he has confirmed each at UCLA and now Japanese Washington that when you go to sleep on protection and go away him open he’ll make you pay. Watts continued to play laborious even in a blowout loss and completed the sport with 16 factors and eight boards. He solely went 2-of-7 from the free-throw line, however attending to the road seven occasions is a good sight to see when you’re head coach David Riley and the Japanese Washington teaching workers.
USC was ranked within the AP Ballot high 25 earlier than their loss to Oklahoma final Friday and have since fallen out of the polls and develop into unranked. Nevertheless, their subsequent sport is on Saturday evening in Las Vegas vs #11 Gonzaga and a win might go a good distance in direction of them changing into ranked once more. In the meantime, Japanese Washington has little doubt had a really irritating season as they sit at 1-6 after this blowout loss. Japanese Washington has misplaced each sport this season by double-digits however will look to show issues round as they play Air Pressure on Saturday afternoon.
This text was written by Omar Hillo, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You possibly can observe us on Fb, or on twitter.
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