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2017 March Madness: USC rallies back to stun SMU

By Andrew Nostvick

Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; USC Trojans players celebrate their win at the end of the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. USC defeated SMU 66-65. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; USC Trojans players celebrate their win at the end of the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. USC defeated SMU 66-65. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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The USC Trojans rallied from nine points down in the second half to knock off sixth-seeded SMU and advance on to play the Baylor Bears Sunday.

A little momentum can go a long way, and the USC Trojans proved that Friday afternoon in Tulsa.

For the second straight game, USC overcame a halftime deficit as they went on to defeat the sixth-seed SMU Mustangs 66-65 in the first round of the East regional.

The Trojans struggled early on, but only found themselves trailing 38-30 at halftime.

At one point, SMU had a nine-point lead with more than 13 minutes left in the game. USC won by going on a 25-15 run in the last 12:04.

USC didn’t take the lead for the first time until Bennie Boatwright sank a three-pointer with 2:09 left to take a 63-62 lead.

Shake Milton responded for SMU by sinking a three-pointer as the shot clock was expiring to put the Mustangs ahead 65-63.

Elijah Stewart played the hero for the Trojans by hitting a go-ahead three-pointer with 36 seconds remaining to make it 66-65. Stewart had 22 points and went 6-for-13 from three-point range.

SMU had one last chance in the final seconds, but Milton missed a drive and lay-up as time expired.

The Mustangs would have liked to go to Semi Ojeleye in the final seconds. Ojeleye had a big game, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

USC might be getting used to playing from behind at this point. It’s the second straight game that they trailed at halftime.

Against Providence, USC trailed by 15. They rallied back in the second half to get the 75-71 win in the First Four match-up Wednesday.

In the game Wednesday, USC outscored Providence 46-27 in the second half. In Friday’s win, they outscored SMU 36-27.

Next: Could USC make it to the Sweet 16?

USC is now one win away from getting to the Sweet 16. It’s an impressive feat considering they were one of the last few at-large teams in the tournament.

Their road block for Sunday will be Baylor, who earlier in the day defeated New Mexico State.

A win on Sunday would put USC back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007.

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