Hackett’s Baskets Help USC Win, 87-79

After spending most of the game on the bench in foul trouble, USC guard Dwayne Hackett made two three-point baskets in the final 1:30 to help the Trojans rally for an 87-79 victory over Arizona State on Thursday night at the Sports Arena.

In its Pacific 10 Conference opener, USC had to overcome a four-point deficit in the game’s final three minutes after blowing a 10-point lead before a crowd of 2,674.

USC (8-2, 1-0) has won 14 consecutive games at home and also has a 14-game home conference winning streak. Arizona State, which entered the game with a six-game winning streak, is 6-2 and 0-1.

After playing only nine minutes in the first half because of three early fouls, Hackett, a 6-foot-1 senior, was the main reason for USC’s exciting finish.

“Hackett showed me a whole lot,” USC Coach George Raveling said. “He just kept playing and playing. He stepped forward and took charge for us.”

USC looked like it would not need anyone’s heroics when it took a 66-56 lead with 9:17 to play. However, the Trojans lost control when Arizona State went on its own three-point shooting binge to cut USC’s lead.

In a six-minute span, the Sun Devils outscored USC, 21-7, behind the shooting of guards Marcell Capers and Stevin Smith. During Arizona State’s run, USC’s fast-paced offense was slowed to a turnover-filled walk before Hackett came to the rescue.

After forward Tremayne Anchrum, who finished with a personal-best 15 rebounds, scored on a layup to cut Arizona State’s lead to 77-75, Hackett then responded with a three-point basket with 1:27 left in the game. Hackett then put the game out of reach with another three-pointer 45 seconds later.

“I had got in foul trouble early, so I had to keep my composure,” said Hackett, who finished with 12 points in 24 minutes. “Those three-pointers I knocked down were big for us at the end.”

Mark Boyd, a 6-7 junior, had personal-bests in leading USC in scoring and rebounding with 20 points and 17 rebounds.

Boyd and Anchrum were largely responsible for USC’s domination of the boards. The Trojans outrebounded Arizona State, 55-29.

To combat USC’s advantage inside, the Sun Devils turned to a pressing defense and outside shooting.

After scoring only three points in the first half, Capers, a former standout at Manual Arts High, made three three-point baskets and scored 11 points in the final 20 minutes to ignite the Sun Devils.

Arizona State’s full-court trapping defense gave USC problems in forcing 19 Trojan turnovers.

“We got crushed on the boards, so we had to change some things,” Arizona State Coach Bill Frieder said. “We’re not big enough or physical enough on the boards.”

Most of the Trojans’ turnovers came in the first half, as Arizona State’s Dwayne Fontana responded with 12 points after capitalizing on 15 mistakes by USC.

However, USC freshman point guard Burt Harris did a better job in the second half in finishing with 12 points and five assists.

“We knew that they’d come after us, but that is as tight of a defense that I’ve seen since I’ve been in college,” said Harris, from Fairfax High. “I made a couple of mistakes, but as long as we came away with a win, I’m happy.”

Fontana led Arizona State with 22 points. Lester Neal had 11 rebounds.

USC will play at the Forum against Arizona on Saturday because of a weekend ice show at the Sports Arena.