USC finally finds a groove and beats Montana in season opener

Debuts, they can be challenging little affairs. All those new starters, first-game jitters, teams awash with hope and uncertainty.

USC opened its 2016-17 season Friday night against Montana at the Galen Center, and those looking for anything approaching a definitive answer as to the ultimate quality of this season’s Trojans will need to check back later.

The Trojans played without starting forward Bennie Boatwright, a game-time scratch with back spasms, but guards Elijah Stewart and Shaqquan Aaron helped USC hold off Montana, 75-61.

It wasn’t exactly the high-flying, fastbreak basketball of USC coach Andy Enfield’s wildest dreams, but it was certainly effective enough for openers.

Stewart, one of only two returning USC starters with Boatwright out, led the Trojans with 30 points. Aaron, the talented transfer from Louisville, started slowly but soon displayed his obvious athleticism. He finished with 17 points and seven rebounds in his first game for USC.

The 6-foot-5 Stewart was USC’s sixth-leading scorer last season (9.8 per game), but looked like someone with much grander ambitions for his junior season. He was smooth from outside and aggressive to the basket. He made six of 12 shots from the field and 14 of his 16 free throws.

The Grizzlies went 21-12 last season, return four starters and weren’t interested in playing the opening night foil. They hung tight until midway in the second half, sparked by the play of guard Ahmaad Rorie.

Rorie, a 6-foot-1 redshirt sophomore from Tacoma, Wash., led Montana with 21 points. He made eight of 15 shots from the field, including five of eight three-point attempts.

USC went 21-13 last season and averaged 80.5 points a game, making a school record 266 three-pointers. With their roster left uncertain by defections to the pros, the Trojans were picked to finish seventh this season in the Pac-12 Conference.

The game got off to something of an odd start. The first five field goals were all three-pointers. Unfortunately for the Trojans, Montana made four of them for a quick 12-3 lead. After Stewart hit his three-pointer, USC went six minutes without a field goal.

But after building an early 10-point lead, the Grizzlies sputtered, USC’s man defense tightened and the Trojans climbed back into the game.

They went on a 13-0 run to take a 25-18 lead as the Grizzlies began to struggle with the USC pressure. After making five of their first seven shots, Montana made only three of its next 17, and USC led 34-30 at the half.

The Trojans never trailed in the second half, as Stewart and Aaron went to work and the USC defense continued to force turnovers. The offense continued looked more comfortable. Forward Chimezie Metu shrugged off a slow start to add 14 points.

Signees

USC announced that it had signed two players to its 2017 class: Jordan Usher, a 6-foot-7 wing, and Victor Uyaelunmo, a 6-11 center.

The pair will join Duke point guard transfer Derryck Thornton in the 2017 class. Thornton will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Usher, from Canton, Ga., was considered a four-star prospect and was ranked in the top 100 by ESPN and Rivals.com. Enfield said in a statement that Usher is a “tremendously versatile player on offense and is capable of guarding several positions on defense.”

Uyaelunmo, a three-star recruit from Miami, was ranked the No. 10 center in his class by ESPN. Enfield said Uyaelunmo is an athletic big man who can block shots and score in the paint.

The players signed as part of basketball’s early signing period, which ends Thursday. The regular signing period starts April 12.

Staff writer Zach Helfand contributed to this report.