Oregon

USC men’s basketball falls to .500 after loss at Oregon

Published

11 months ago

December 29, 2023

USC men’s basketball falls to .500 after loss at Oregon

Coming off of a December 19 win at Alabama State, USC men’s basketball started off Pac-12 play with a matchup at Oregon on Thursday night. It was the third game in the Trojans’ four-game road trip; USC has hosted only one home game in the month of December. The Trojans (6-6) struggled generating offense and ultimately fell 82-74 to the Ducks (9-3), who remain undefeated in seven games at home this season.

Oregon got out to an early 12-2 lead behind back-to-back 3-pointers from freshman guard Jackson Shelstad. Threes from USC freshman guard Bronny James and graduate forward DJ Rodman brought life to the offense, but scoring droughts kept the Trojans from keeping up with Oregon. USC shot only 32% from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

USC struggled with turnovers in the first half as well, and the Ducks’ lead ballooned to 28-15 with 4:46 left before halftime. Back-to-back turnovers by junior guard Kobe Johnson (USC’s ninth and tenth turnovers of the period) allowed Oregon to stretch its lead to 18 with three minutes to go.

With 1:30 to go, Oregon freshman forward Kwame Evans Jr. hit two free throws to give the Ducks a 20-point lead, their largest of the night. They ended the half up 42-25 on the Trojans, having scored 14 points on 10 USC turnovers while committing only three. Freshman guard Isaiah Collier, usually a strong offensive presence for USC, took only two shots in the first half.

“Our starting guards have to play better,” USC head coach Andy Enfield said after the game. “They were 2-for-14 in the first half with a bunch of turnovers and made some defensive mistakes. They’re in the starting lineup for a reason, and they have to play like Pac-12 veterans.”

A 3-pointer from fifth-year guard Boogie Ellis and a layup by sophomore forward Vincent Iwuchukwu revived the Trojan offense to start the second half. The two defenses battled, but a 7-0 USC run made it an eight-point game and forced a Ducks timeout with just over 16 minutes left.

Redshirt senior forward Joshua Morgan came alive in the latter half, tipping the ball in on back-to-back possessions. Later, a couple of dunks and a hook shot from Morgan kept the Trojans in the game. A Morgan assist to Rodman made it a seven-point game; Oregon hit back on the next possession, but a Rodman three cut the Ducks’ lead to just six points with 10:36 to play.

Back-to-back buckets by Oregon, aided by a Trojan turnover, brought the lead back to 11 points. USC tried to battle back against the Ducks but struggled to close in through the middle of the period.

The issues in the Trojan backcourt continued, as Collier’s second made field goal came with just over seven minutes left in the game. Ellis, who averages just under 20 points per game, shot only 4-for-15 from the field for 11 points. And although Johnson contributed a team-high nine assists, he shot only 3-for-11 from the floor and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc.

“We supposedly have some all-league first-team, second-team guys in the preseason,” Enfield said. “They’ve gotta play like it. We love them, we believe in them, and now it’s time to step up because we’re in the Pac-12.”

USC fought hard at the end of the second half; a Johnson jumper and a Collier layup cut Oregon’s lead to six points with just over a minute left in the game. Morgan and Shelstad exchanged free throws, and a deep three from Ellis made it a four-point game with 0:39 left to play. USC fouled in the hopes of getting the ball back but wasn’t able to generate any offense, and Oregon senior guard Kario Oquendo sank all four free throws to ensure a Ducks victory.

Aside from turnovers, USC’s defensive woes kept victory out of reach. The team gave up 43 points to Oregon freshmen (Shelstad and Evans Jr.). Through the first 11 games this season, USC has held its opponents to 41.3% shooting, but it allowed Oregon to shoot 46.2% from the field on Thursday. The Ducks won the battle at the free throw line as well, shooting 26-for-32 (81%) from the line. USC went only 10-for-15 (67%) from the stripe.

The showing wasn’t completely negative for the Trojans. Rodman and Morgan led the team with 14 points apiece; it was a season high for Morgan, who also contributed a team-high seven rebounds.

“[Morgan] dominated the paint with his offensive rebounding,” Enfield commented. “Our guards got him the ball in good positions and he finished, and we need that from him. He’s a big part of our team, he’s a really good defender and he leads our league in blocked shots.”

Overall, it was a tough loss for USC men’s basketball to start out Pac-12 play. There were a few bright spots offensively, but the team is going to need to dig deeper in order to win some of the more competitive matchups this season.

The Trojans close out their road stretch at Oregon State on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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Oregon

Who was the 2024 Transfer of the Year in Oregon high school football?

Published

3 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Who was the 2024 Transfer of the Year in Oregon high school football?

Dozens of Oregon high school football players transferred from one school to another during the 2023-24 offseason. SBLive Oregon combed through those transfers and selected 16 of the best to highlight. Vote for your top choice in the poll at the bottom of the page.

Earlier: Is transfer culture ruining high school football? Oregon coaches weigh in

Aguilar dominated at the 4A level for Milwaukie last season, and that performance translated to the 6A Mt. Hood Conference, where Aguilar was voted to the all-conference second team.

Ayers moved north from Roseburg and led the resurgent Wolverines with 1,074 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 173 carries.

The transfer from Springfield had a major impact on the Lancers’ Midwestern League title march, winning league defensive player of the year honors and earning second-team all-league honors as a backup tailback.

Buzzard was a two-time wrestling state champion and top linebacker for Harrisburg. He made an instant impact with the Spartans, leading them with 85 tackles and making the all-Oregon West Conference first team.

Brasfield moved across town from Corvallis and teamed with freshman quarterback Zeke Thomas as one of the most potent passing combos in the state, catching 90 passes for 1,335 yards and 19 touchdowns.

The ex-Crescent Valley standout helped lead the Titans to the 6A playoffs, earning first-team all-South Central Football Conference honors.

Craigwell came from Sunset and was a first-team all-Three Rivers League inside linebacker (34 tackles, three for loss) for the league champions.

The University of Oregon commit was as good as advertised coming to the Willamette Valley from the Arizona desert, leading the team in tackles for loss.

Eddleman joined older brother Treyson in coming from Sherwood and shined during his first season with the Pacers, recording a team-best 62 tackles and two sacks and making the all-Three Rivers League first team.

Hoffert arrived from Central Catholic and was one of the top players on the Generals defense, making the all-PIL first team.

Ingle returned to the Lions after spending his junior season at Wilsonville and fit right back in on defense, making the all-Three Rivers League first team with 40 tackles (five for loss) and a team-high three sacks. He rushed for six touchdowns.

Kurland arrived from Sunset and quickly took over the starting job, throwing for 1,143 yards and 11 touchdowns with one interception and completing 67.6% of his passes (71 of 105). He led the Lakers to the No. 1 seed in the 6A Open playoffs and was voted to the all-Three Rivers League second team.

Martin joined the program after starring at Gaston last year and has shined in all three phases (1,417 all-purpose yards, 17 touchdowns, 24 tackles, four interceptions).

Martirano was a 6A all-state selection at West Salem, and after winning Mid-Willamette Conference offensive player of the year honors (2,150 passing yards, 18 touchdowns; 417 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns), he’ll likely make the 5A all-state team this fall.

The late arrival from Riverside County in California quickly melded with his teammates, showing why he’s a rising prospect and finishing with 1,503 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.

Smith was already well-known as a standout receiver at Central Catholic, but with the Timberwolves, he became a two-way all-Three Rivers League first-team selection, catching 33 passes for 609 yards and seven touchdowns and making 22 tackles at safety.

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

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Oregon

High wind watch issued for Oregon for Friday

Published

11 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

High wind watch issued for Oregon for Friday

On Thursday at 3:35 a.m. a high wind watch was issued by the National Weather Service valid for Friday between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. for Clatsop County Coast, Tillamook County Coast and Central Coast of Oregon.

The weather service describes, “South winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible for beaches and headlands.”

“Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles,” explains the weather service.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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Oregon

Northwest Oregon Conference boys soccer 2024: All-league teams, coach and player of the year

Published

18 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Northwest Oregon Conference boys soccer 2024: All-league teams, coach and player of the year

Northwest Oregon Conference boys soccer all-league selections and individual awards for the 2024 season, as determined by a vote of the league’s coaches

Vance Sheffield, La Salle Prep

Jared Rojas, Canby

Al Lara, Hood River Valley

F Vance Sheffield, La Salle Prep, senior

F Alex Aguiar, Wilsonville, senior

F Andro Mendez, Hood River Valley, senior

M Quentin Torbert, La Salle Prep, senior

M Sergio Day, Wilsonville, senior

M Julian Lara, Hood River Valley, senior

M Ruben Velazquez, Wilsonville, senior

M Javier Martinez, Centennial, senior

D Connor Garvey, La Salle Prep, senior

D Andrew McDougal, Wilsonville, senior

D Oscar Moline, Hood River Valley, senior

D Fabian Gonzales, Centennial, senior

GK Jared Rojas, Canby, senior

GK Adam Clem, La Salle Prep, senior

F Aran Garcia, Hood River Valley, senior

F Francisco Sanchez, Canby, junior

F Alex Fulgencio, Centennial, sophomore

M River Nichols, La Salle Prep, junior

M Cooper Eldon, La Salle Prep, junior

M Matt Tamimi, Canby, senior

M Christopher Marcial-Cruz, Parkrose, senior

M Daniel Aseive, Milwaukie, senior

D Declan O’Brien, La Salle Prep, junior

D Devyn Kinzie, Canby, junior

D Braxton Nava, Canby, freshman

D Eric Gudino, Milwaukie, freshman

GK Emmanuel Galindo, Hood River Valley, junior

F Hugo Cortes Cruz, La Salle Prep, sophomore

F Geovanni Macias, Hood River Valley, junior

F Jordan Lopez, Canby, junior

F Kevin Jimenez, Hillsboro, senior

F Noah Martin, Putnam, senior

F Jonathan Alcantar, Milwaukie, senior

M Solomon Parson, Hood River Valley, junior

M Derek Garcia, Wilsonville, senior

M Anthony Ledesma, Canby, junior

M Natnaiel Kindie, Parkrose, junior

M Cohen Biddle, Hillsboro, sophomore

M Caleb Hillard, Putnam, senior

M Abraham Andrade Ayala, Milwaukie, senior

M Jeffrey Boknecht, La Salle Prep, senior

D Rylan De Souza, La Salle Prep, senior

D John Olson, Hood River Valley, senior

D Javier Juarez-Pedraza, Wilsonville, senior

D Sebastion Zayago-Enciso, Wilsonville, senior

D Matt Young, Canby, senior

D Edgar Garcia, Centennial, senior

D Maximino Flores Ramirez, Parkrose, senior

D Eddie Larson, Hillsboro, junior

D Jimmy Thielman, Putnam, senior

D Erowyn Stovall, Milwaukie, senior

D Uriel Chacon-Alvarado, Parkrose, senior

GK Eamon Anslinger, Hood River Valley, senior

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

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