Rapid Recap: USC Blown Out, Embarrassed By Saint Mary's In Desert
Trojans Suffer Historic 78-63 Loss at Cactus Classic
In a shocking turn of events, the USC Trojans were blown out by the Saint Mary's Gaels 78-63 in the semifinals of the 2023 Cactus Classic at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
A Deplorable Defensive Performance
The Trojans' defense was abysmal throughout the game. Saint Mary's shot 55.6% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Alex Ducas led the Gaels with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Aidan Mahaney added 19 points off the bench.
"Our defensive effort was unacceptable," said USC head coach Andy Enfield. "We gave up way too many open shots, and we couldn't get any stops when we needed them."
Offensive Struggles and Lack of Leadership
USC's offense also struggled to find its rhythm. The Trojans shot just 37.5% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Boogie Ellis led USC with 16 points, but he shot just 6-of-18 from the field.
"We didn't get any leadership from our veterans tonight," said Enfield. "We needed some guys to step up and make plays, and we didn't get that."
A Historic Humiliation
The loss was USC's worst defeat to an unranked opponent since 2007. It also marked the first time the Trojans have lost to Saint Mary's since 1992.
"This is a tough pill to swallow," said Ellis. "We're going to have to learn from this and get better. We can't let this define our season."
Looking Ahead
USC will face Colorado State in the third-place game of the Cactus Classic on Sunday afternoon. The Trojans will then return home to face Princeton on Tuesday night.
"We need to put this behind us and focus on the next game," said Enfield. "We have a lot of potential, but we need to be more consistent and play together as a team."
Read also:
The Home Depot Wilkins Store In Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Rapid Recap: USC Blown Out, Embarrassed By Saint Mary's In Desert