LA Times · Jan 3, 2021
Strong defensive performance leads USC to victory over Utah
USC’s Tahj Eaddy drives to the basket past Utah’s Alfonso Plummer during the second half of the Trojans’ 64-46 win Saturday.It didn’t seem like a winning recipe for success for USC on Saturday afternoon.
Starting point guard Ethan Anderson was out injured again. Star freshman Evan Mobley had just three points and no field-goal attempts. The Trojans committed 15 turnovers. And after a blistering opening eight minutes, they made just three of their final 15 attempts from three-point range.
Yet it didn’t matter. Because in a 64-46 win over Utah at Galen Center, the Trojans’ most important ingredient — their long, athletic, versatile defense — compensated for everything else.