USC basketball: Senior Day turns sour for Trojans in 49-44 loss to Oregon State

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Oregon State and USC trudged through Saturday’s game at the Galen Center, and the Beavers limped across the finish line to win a defensive struggle full of missed shots and turnovers. Final score: 49-44, OSU.

USC’s Mike Gerrity missed a layup with 13 seconds left and Nikola Vucevic failed on a tip-in thereafter. Oregon State’s Seth Tarver rebounded, was fouled, and fans started toward the exits.

Gerrity led USC on Senior Day with 13 points on four-of-12 shooting from the field. Seth Tarver led OSU with 15 points on six-of-nine shooting.

Struggling against the Beavers’ 1-3-1 zone defense, USC finished with 20 turnovers, which Oregon State converted into 19 points.

USC shot 15 of 51 from the floor (29%); Oregon State shot 18 of 45 (40%).

The Trojans (16-12 overall, 8-8 in Pacific 10 Conference play) lost all four games against teams from Oregon this year. They play their final games of the season next week at Arizona State and Arizona.

Oregon State (13-15, 7-9) hosts Washington and Washington State before the Pac-10 tournament starts on March 10 here in L.A.

-- Baxter Holmes