Nov. 19, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt flirted with a top-10 upset on Sunday at Memorial Gym. But visiting USC was too much down the stretch.
The Commodores led by double-digits early before the Trojans rallied into overtime, and USC controlled the final stretch to escape Memorial Gym with a 93-89 victory.
Here’s how it went down:
THE SKINNY: Vanderbilt was sluggish to start the game, committing three turnovers on its first three possessions. USC led by four points early before the Commodores buckled down and staged an 18-2 run to led by as many as 14 points. But the Trojans weren’t done, as they closed the half on a 15-0 run – on five consecutive 3-pointers – to lead 35-34 at the break. The two teams traded baskets in the second half before Riley LaChance‘s running jumper fell short at the end of regulation to force overtime tied at 80-80. Then USC made plays when it counted in the extra period to seal the victory.
TURNING POINT: Vanderbilt held a late three-point lead, 80-77, when USC’s Jordan McLaughlin calmly sank a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left. With the game tied, the Dores ran out the clock on regulation and missed on a Riley LaChance leaner in the lane. But the Trojans used that momentum to score the first seven points in regulation, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
IMPACT PLAYER: Jordan McLaughlin. The senior was a spark late for USC, hitting the tying 3-pointer with 28 seconds left in regulation and scoring nine of the Trojans’ 13 points in overtime. He finished with a game-high 35 points on 12-of-19 shooting.
STARTLING STAT: Matthew Fisher-Davis finished with 31 points, two shy of tying his career-high. The senior scored 21 of his 31 points in the second half and hit six of his 13 total 3-pointers on the night.
WHAT IT MEANS: Vanderbilt missed an opportunity at notching a résumé-boosting upset early in the season. USC, meanwhile, moves to 3-0 on the year.
WHAT’S NEXT: Vanderbilt returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 23 for a Thanksgiving Day matchup against Virginia in the NIT Season Tip-off from Brooklyn, N.Y.
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.
