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Colorado guard McKinley Wright IV, left, looks to pass the ball as USC guard Ethan Anderson defends during the first half of Thursday’s game in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC forward Max Agbonkpolo, left, and Colorado forward Jeriah Horne watch the ball get away during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC guard Drew Peterson, left, and Colorado forward Evan Battey scramble for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado forward Evan Battey, left, pulls in a rebound as USC forward Evan Mobley defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC guard Ethan Anderson, right, is defended by Colorado guard McKinley Wright IV during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado guard McKinley Wright IV, left, looks to pass the ball as USC guard Tahj Eaddy defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC guard Ethan Anderson, right, passes the ball as Colorado guard McKinley Wright IV defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado forward Evan Battey, front, pulls in a rebound as USC forward Evan Mobley defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado forward Jabari Walker, right, pulls in a rebound after clearing guard Maddox Daniels out of the way in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against USC on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC head coach Andy Enfield, back, looks on as Southern California forward Isaiah Mobley shoots a free throw in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Colorado Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Colorado won 80-62. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado forward Jeriah Horne reacts after hitting a 3-point-basket against USC during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC guard Tahj Eaddy, left, drives to the rim as Colorado guard Eli Parquet defends during the second half of Thursday’s game in Boulder, Colo. Colorado won, 80-62. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC guard Ethan Anderson, front, pulls in a loose ball next to Colorado forward Dallas Walton and USC forward Evan Mobley pursue during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC guard Ethan Anderson, right, trips Colorado guard McKinley Wright IV during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC guard Drew Peterson, left, looks to pass the ball as Colorado guard McKinley Wright IV defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Colorado won 80-62. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC guard Ethan Anderson, front, knocks the ball out of the hands of Colorado guard Keeshawn Barthelemy, back left, as Southern California guard Noah Baumann looks on in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Colorado won 80-62. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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USC forward Isaiah Mobley, center, pulls in a rebound between Colorado forwards Dallas Walton, left, and Jeriah Horne in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Colorado won 80-62. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado guard McKinley Wright IV, left, drives past USC forward Evan Mobley in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Colorado won 80-62. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado guard D’Shawn Schwartz, front left, and forward Jeriah Horne, front right, fight for control of a rebound with USC forwards Evan Mobley, back left, and Isaiah Mobley in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Colorado won 80-62. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado head coach Tad Boyle, right, congratulates guard McKinley Wright IV as he heads to the bench with a minute left in their 80-62 victory over USC on Thursday night in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado forward Evan Battey, front, jokes with teammates as time runs out in their 80-62 victory over USC on Thursday night in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Colorado guard McKinley Wright IV, left, jokes with forward Evan Battey after they defeated USC on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Colorado won 80-62. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The USC defense failed on Thursday.
It’s the side of the court where the Trojans have made their name this season, but you wouldn’t have known it watching Thursday night’s 80-62 loss to Colorado, the most lopsided defeat of USC’s campaign.
“I’m disappointed in how we played, I think our players are disappointed we didn’t play very well tonight,” USC head coach Andy Enfield said. “We deserve what we got tonight.”
The 19th-ranked Trojans (19-5 overall, 13-4 in Pac-12 play) had held opponents to 38.6% shooting (sixth nationally) and 32% from 3-point range this season. But Colorado shot 47.4% overall and made 54.5% of its 3-point attempts.
Simply put, the Buffaloes (18-7, 12-6) feasted. Guard Jeriah Horne matched his season-high with 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting, making half of Colorado’s 12 3-pointers. Senior McKinley Wright recorded a career-high 14 assists to go with 15 points.
Asked what his team could have done better on defense, Enfield said, “We could have played zone for 40 minutes, which we’ll probably do next time.”
Every time USC got within striking distance, Colorado answered. After a Drew Peterson floater, Max Agbonkpolo deflected the inbounds pass to Ethan Anderson, who laid the ball in to get USC within 10 with 4:22 left.
But Wright drew a shooting foul on Anderson on the next possession and hit both free throws. After two USC misses, Wright hit a mid-range jumper and Eli Parquet’s two-handed transition dunk served as the dagger.
Colorado out-ran USC with 15 transition points to the Trojans’ three, and its bench outscored USC’s reserves 37-18.
A week ago, USC was able to keep pace in a high-tempo game against a hobbled Arizona State. But it was a different story playing on the road in Boulder, especially given the way the USC offense played for much of the game.
“It’s not easy to travel here,” Enfield said. “Especially after playing on Monday against a very good Oregon team. … But we’re not making any excuses for tonight’s game. Colorado played very well and we didn’t.”
After Isaiah White hit the first basket of the game, the Trojans went 4:15 without a point until White made a bonus free throw after a Colorado lane violation. After eight minutes of game time, USC had four turnovers to two field goals.
The Trojans appeared to wake up from there. A couple of second-chance baskets got USC rolling, and Chevez Goodwin came off the bench for seven first-half points. A White 3-pointer drew USC within three.
But Colorado ended the half on a 12-3 run, and USC didn’t make a field goal in the final 3:32.
Evan Mobley and Tahj Eaddy led USC with 13 points apiece as USC shot just 38.3% from the floor, including a 5-for-16 showing from 3-point range.
USC’s hopes of winning the Pac-12’s regular-season conference title took a hit with the loss. Paired with UCLA’s victory over Utah, the Trojans slipped a half-game behind the Bruins for first place in the conference.
USC and UCLA have three games each to play, including a rivalry rematch in the regular-season finale on March 6 in Westwood.
The Trojans might need to win out – against three teams they defeated earlier this season (Utah, Stanford and the Bruins) – to claim their first regular-season championship since 1985. UCLA closes with challenging road games at Colorado and Oregon before the finale with the Trojans.
“Every game we play is big from here on out,” Enfield said. “We gotta try to bounce back and play a good game on Saturday (against Utah).”
KEEP FIGHTING
: ESPN2
— USC Men’s Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 26, 2021
: ESPN2
: EA
— USC Men’s Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 26, 2021
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