USC: Trojans Pull off Upset Against Higher Seeded SMU
By Jamaal Artis
Coming in as a first four team in this year’s tourney, the USC Trojans played with a chip on their shoulder.
The number eleven seeded USC Trojans pulled off a March Madness upset as they won their first round game against the sixth-seeded SMU Mustangs in a rematch of a regular season game. The Trojans did it by pulling off it’s the second comeback in a row.
In their play-in game the Trojans came back from 17 down to defeat the Providence Friars, but against the Mustangs the Trojans only had to deal with a 8 point halftime deficit. The Trojans won on a late three-pointer from guard Elijah Stewart.
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The Trojans won the game despite only holding a lead for 1 minute and 26 seconds, the Mustangs were able to get the early lead by holding the Trojans to just 2 of 14 from beyond the three-point arc. The Mustangs barraged the Trojans themselves by hitting 6 three-pointers leading to the halftime deficit.
The Trojans righted the ship in the second half shooting better from the three lead by Stewart who hit 3 of his 4 three-pointers including the game winner. Stewart leads all Trojans with 22 points, whileTrojans big man Chimezie Metu battled to get 14 points and 7 rebounds.
The Mustangs relied on forward Semi Ojeleye who scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, but it was guard Shake Milton who had his floater in the lane rim off as the buzzer sounded ending the Mustangs season.
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The Trojans will now face the three seeded Baylor Bears on Sunday with a chance to go to the Sweet Sixteen. After their last two games, you know the Trojans will make it an exciting game for their fans.