USC’s Rally Proves Too Little, Too Late to Defeat UNLV, 80-75

USC’s best eventually turned up Saturday night, appearing in a flash in the final six minutes of the Trojans’ 80-75 loss to Nevada-Las Vegas, showing the 16,208 at the Thomas & Mack Center what was missing from the game’s first 34 minutes.

But seniors Stais Boseman, Jaha Wilson and Rodrick Rhodes came alive too late to keep USC from its third loss.

“I take the blame for [the loss],” Wilson said. “As a senior it is my fault. We had a chance and I didn’t come through.”

USC’s chance came thanks to a furious rally that seemed to be sparked by the strangest of plays. With UNLV ahead, 68-56, and 6:25 remaining, Rhodes screamed for the ball near the USC bench, took two dribbles, gave a head fake, and then badly missed an eight-foot jump shot off the backboard.

The miss seemed to drive him more and with 5:38 remaining he led USC back, getting help from guard Elias Ayuso. Rhodes was fouled on a drive, made one free throw, missed the second, and watched the 6-foot-2 Ayuso scramble among taller players to get the rebound and put it back in.

Rhodes scored on a dunk and a jump shot to trim the lead to 68-63, and then Ayuso made a three-point shot and the Runnin’ Rebel lead had slipped to two in a matter of 1:10.

UNLV scored two quick baskets but then Wilson scored inside and Ayuso made a three-point shot from the corner and the Trojans were within one, 72-71.

Boseman, who scored only seven points and was limited by foul trouble most of the night, made an acrobatic eight-foot runner, with 2:14 left to keep the UNLV lead at one, 74-73.

But Tyrone Esby pushed the lead to three with a layup at 1:37 and the Rebels made their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory, while USC (5-3) never saw another clean shot at the basket.

“We had a chance there at the end and we didn’t do it,” Boseman said. “I think we played hard, but didn’t get it done.”

The first half looked like an extension of last Saturday’s victory over Ohio State. Boseman and Rhodes, who were suspended against the Buckeyes for breaking a team rule, couldn’t be depended on.

Boseman picked up his third foul with 11:34 left and did not return until the final two minutes. His only field goal in the first half was a 15-foot jump shot with six seconds remaining that gave the Trojans a 35-34 lead at intermission.

Rhodes had two shots blocked in the first five minutes by Keon Clark, the first landing well into the seats. He did not attempt another shot until 1:47 left when his layup gave USC its first lead, 31-29, as part of a 10-0 run that included two three-point baskets by Ken Sims.

Rhodes, who tied with Ayuso for the team-high with 15 points, played the point when Boseman went out in the first and again late in the second half, but the rest of the team seemed to only stand and watch as he tried, in vain, to get off his shots against a Rebel defense that held USC to 38% shooting.

“We didn’t execute,” Wilson said. “Not on offense, not on defense and I can blame only myself. I should have done something.”

Wilson and Gary Williams each scored 15, countered by Nesby and Jermaine Smith, who scored 18 apiece to lead the Rebels (7-2).

Guard Danny Walker was not in uniform for USC because of a nagging knee injury, but he is expected to play against Washington on Thursday.