Despite improving in a number of key areas: turnovers, foul trouble and injuries were too much for No. 19 Auburn to overcome in a 74-71 loss in the Galin Center to the USC Trojans in its first of two games on the West Coast.
"I thought we played better tonight. We gave ourselves a chance," said head coach Bruce Pearl. "We talked after the Georgia State game that I felt like we needed to play better to have a chance to win these games now, and I thought we did. Obviously, turnovers killed us."
The Tigers started strong in Los Angeles with a first half that included a 14-2 scoring run into the halftime locker room – one that had a large Auburn crowd on its feet. Tre Donaldson had a career high 10 points in the first half alone, and Johni Broome had 11 first half points on 5-of-6 makes from the field.
But, in the second half USC, was able to take advantage of the Auburn mistakes and injuries.
“In the first half, there was a lot of freedom. Both teams playing hard. And in the second half, we had like eight fouls in the first four or five minutes, and it just took the aggressiveness out,” Pearl said.
In the second half alone, Auburn had 14 turnovers and a season-high total of 23 in the game, which turned into 17 USC points off turnovers. Auburn was also without starting point guard, Wendell Green Jr., for the majority of the second half, exiting the game with 17:44 to play. Jaylin Williams also had to leave the floor with 3:39 to play after a hard fall that kept him out of the remainder of the game.
"I think a couple things were factors out here,” Pearl said. “One obviously being Wendell Green not being able to really play. He tried. He got about 12 minutes in there. And it just it just wasn't effective. You know, Tre Donaldson really stepped up and did a terrific job, but then Tre got in foul trouble.”
Tre Donaldson had a career high 12 points in Green’s absence, along with shooting 2-for-8 from the field, 2-for-4 from downtown, and grabbing two rebounds and four steals. Donaldson, however, got into foul trouble late, committing his second and third by 16:28 left in the second half.
With Donaldson limited due to foul trouble and Wendell out with injury, Zep Jasper and KD Johnson were called upon to play predominantly down the stretch at the one and two positions. The two combined for a total of 12 points, 2-for-10 from the field, 2-of-7 from the 3-point line and four assists.
Still, none of Auburn’s guards were able to shine as bright at USC’s senior guard Boogie Ellis.
“Boogie had 28 points and two steals, but Boogie was incredible in all aspects of the game and he defended and he was physical,” said USC head coach Andy Enfield. “He was quick, he was aggressive on offense, he was aggressive on defense. I thought he played his best game of the year. He made the right decisions on offense. He didn't force a lot of things, he made some shots and he just shot. I just thought he played a great game.”
Ellis went 9-for-15 from the field, 2-of-5 from deep, and was 8-for-10 on free throws, some of which helped seal the win in the final minute of action. His 28 points was a career high after having 27 points in three prior occasions during his career.
“We needed this big win especially after the Bahamas,” Ellis said. “You know, we came up short there. We needed a big resume game for March, so it gives us a lot of confidence knowing that we can play with one of the best teams in the country. Now we just had to build off of it and trust one another and just keep getting better."
Kobe Johnson and Joshua Morgan were the only other Trojans in double figures, both with 10 points. Johnson also led the team with five rebounds, four assists and six steals.
"Bottom line is just turnovers,” Pearl said. “If we just can take a little bit better care of the ball and we don't turn the ball over, we win the game."
At 9-2, Auburn will look to clean up its' play in Seattle, Washington, against another Pac-12 foe in the Washington Huskies on Wednesday. The game will tip off at 8 p.m. CST from Alaska Airlines Arena and will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.
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Patrick is a sophomore from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in fall 2022.
