Metu's Layup With 0.8 Left Wins It For USC, 72-70

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chimezie Metu's layup with 0.8 seconds remaining lifted Southern California to a 72-70 victory over Oregon on Thursday night.

Metu scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds to record his ninth double-double of the season. Jonah Mathews led USC (18-9, 9-5 Pac-12 Conference) with 20 points, Elijah Stewart added 12 and Jordan McLaughlin had 11 points with 11 assists.

Mike McIntosh scored a season-high 23 points and Payton Pritchard added 17 for the Ducks (17-9, 7-6).

With 1:24 to play and trailing 68-67, Metu pulled down an offensive rebound and passed to Stewart who drilled a 3-pointer to give the Trojans a 70-68 lead. On the following possession, McIntosh was called for an offensive foul. Metu was fouled and missed both free throws with 31 seconds to play.

Troy Brown tied game at 70 with a basket with 17 seconds remaining. The Trojans called time out. McLaughlin took the inbounds pass, dribbled around the right wing and threw a perfect alley-oop to Metu who laid it in for the lead. Paul White's 3-point shot at the buzzer was off the mark.

The game was tied nine times in the second half.

USC improved 11-3 at home this season and Oregon dropped to 4-6 on the road.

USC snapped a three-game losing streak and beat the Ducks for the first time in eight games in Los Angeles.

Bennie Boatwright, the second-leading scorer for USC at 14.2 points per game, still showed the effects of a foot injury, grabbing seven rebounds but failing to score for the first time this season.

Trailing from the opening tip, the Trojans rallied and took its first lead of the game, 25-24, following back-to-back 3-pointers by Jonah Mathews with 5:48 left in the half. However, White's basket down the stretch gave the Ducks a 29-28 lead at the break.

Pritchard and McIntosh each scored 10 points in the first half though the Ducks shot only 35.5 percent.

Metu led the Trojans with 10 points in the first half. USC held a 17-16 edge on the glass and shot 42.9 percent in the opening half but missed 9 of 12 3-point attempts.

BIG PICTURE

OREGON: With the Ducks win over Washington State last Sunday, Oregon guaranteed that it will have its eight consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1923-32.

USC: Stewart, Metu and McLaughlin have reached the 1,000-point career mark this season. Boatwright still needs 22 points to reach 1,000.

UP NEXT

OREGON: The Ducks travel to UCLA for a game Saturday.

USC: The Trojans host Oregon State on Saturday.

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