USC basketball: Trojans lead Beavers, 27-22, at halftime

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Turnovers were an issue for USC earlier in the season, but they worked on that ...

Or appeared to, at least.

But in Corvallis tonight, those turnover tendencies have resurfaced, despite the Trojans holding a 27-22 halftime lead over Oregon State.

In that first half, USC had 12 turnovers, several of which were forced by the Beavers’ 1-3-1 zone defense that trapped the Trojans in the half-court and forced them into several high passes that were stolen.

Earlier in the season, USC was one of the nation’s worst ball-handling teams, averaging nearly 20 turnovers per game.

Yet in their last seven games, USC has trimmed that to about 12.1 turnovers per game.

USC got up, 15-5, against OSU, largely because of its size advantage with Nikola Vucevic and Alex Stepheson, but the Beavers then went on a 16-6 run to tie the game, 21-21.
Vucevic broke the tie with a three-pointer from the top of the key. He leads the Trojans with 12 points at halftime on five-of-six shooting, including two of three from three-point range. Calvin Haynes leads OSU with nine points.

USC is shooting 48% from the floor (11 of 23); Oregon State is shooting 29% (six of 21).

Don’t expect at high-scoring second half. USC enters the game ranked 302 nationally in scoring offense (61 points per game) while Oregon State ranks 305th nationally (60.8 points per game).

-- Baxter Holmes, reporting from Corvallis, Ore.