USC opens under new Coach Andy Enfield with big loss to Utah State

LOGAN, Utah — Andy Enfield’s debut as USC basketball coach didn’t go well.

With Athletic Director Pat Haden sitting behind the bench, Utah State slapped the Trojans with a 78-65 loss in the opening game for both teams Friday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Senior guard J.T. Terrell led the Trojans with 20 points and had their only dunk. Enfield was hired from Florida Gulf Coast University where his underdogs made it to the Sweet 16 last season by running and dunking and earning the nickname “Dunk City.” Center Omar Oraby had 15 points and nine rebounds for USC. Preston Medlin led Utah State with 17 points.

The Aggies led, 40-33, at halftime and USC was fortunate the Aggies missed two shots within five feet of the basket in the last 10 seconds.

USC played from behind almost all the game. The Aggies had a 21-11 lead with 9:48 left in the first half when guard Marcel Davis scored a layup.

Forward Spencer Butterfield led the Aggies at halftime with nine points on four-for-six shooting from the field. And as a team Utah State shot 56.7% from the field (17 for 30).

The Trojans were particularly poor from three-point range in the first 20 minutes, going two for 11. Other than Terrell and Oraby, no one scored more than three points for the Trojans.

USC’s only lead of the first half was 9-7 on an Oraby layup.

The Aggies came out even faster in the second half. When Medlin scored a layup with 18:13 left, Utah State was up, 48-35, and USC was calling time out. That lead just kept growing.

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