USC vs. Arizona results, highlights: Wildcats end Bronny James, Trojans' Pac-12 Tournament run in blowout

Kyle Irving

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USC vs. Arizona results, highlights: Wildcats end Bronny James, Trojans' Pac-12 Tournament run in blowout image

Arizona put an end to USC's Cinderella run to an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

Just days after the Trojans upset the Wildcats in Los Angeles, Arizona put a beatdown on USC in the Pac-12 quarterfinals in Las Vegas.

USC had no answer for Arizona's defense, shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from 3. It hung around in the first half but the Wildcats blew things open in the second half, leading by as much as 24 points.

Boogie Ellis fouled out midway through the second half, finishing with just six points. Isaiah Collier couldn't pick up the Trojans with 13 points, three assists and six turnovers. Bronny James was quiet, shooting just 1-for-5 from 3 to finish with three points.

Oumar Ballo dominated the inside for Arizona with 10 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. He had plenty of help on offense, as KJ Lewis (15 points), Jaden Bradley (12), Caleb Love (11) and Pelle Larsson (10) all joined him in double figures scoring.

This loss brings an end to USC's season and NBA Draft decisions loom large for Collier, James and Kobe Johnson.

If you missed any of the action from the Trojans' season finale, The Sporting News tracked live updates, highlights and more below.

USC vs. Arizona final score

  1H 2H Final
Arizona 28 42 70
USC 16 33 49

USC vs. Arizona results, highlights from Pac-12 basketball tournament

(All times Eastern)

Final score: Arizona 70, USC 49

5:10 p.m.: And that'll do it. Arizona will continue its pursuit of a third-consecutive Pac-12 Tournament championship as it brings USC's season to an end.

4:59 p.m.: Pelle Larsson connected with Caleb Love on a halfcourt alley-oop, then buried a 3-pointer two possessions later. That will put a bow on this one. Arizona leads 63-43 with 2:37 remaining.

4:51 p.m.: Boogie Ellis has fouled out of the game with under eight minutes to play. That just might do it for his USC career. He finishes the night with six points while shooting 2-for-11 from the field.

4:46 p.m.: Arizona is putting a beatdown on USC, leading 54-32 with 8:15 remaining. The Wildcats' defense has the Trojans looking dejected as they continue to struggle to score. Arizona has gotten major contributions off the bench as KJ Lewis (13 points) and Jaden Bradley (10 points) are the game's two leading scorers.

4:37 p.m.: The wheels are coming off for USC. Arizona is crushing the Trojans on the glass, out-rebounding USC 37-21. The Wildcats are maximizing their second-chance points with 13 offensive rebounds. Arizona is pulling away, leading 44-26 at the under-12 media timeout.

4:29 p.m.: The Trojans are in trouble. Keshad Johnson misses a 3-pointer but Oumar Ballo corrals the offensive rebound and kicks out to a wide-open Caleb Love who buries the second-chance triple. Arizona has its biggest lead of the game, up 17 with 14:42 remaining. Timeout USC.

4:23 p.m.: USC is struggling to cut into Arizona's lead because offense is not coming easy. The Wildcats are switching up man and zone looks on defense, and the Trojans have no answer. Arizona remains in the lead, 34-22, at the under-16 media timeout. 

4:17 p.m.: Joshua Morgan gets a push shot to go for USC, ending its scoring drought on the first possession of the second half.

End of first half: Arizona 28, USC 16

3:59 p.m.: Arizona closes the first half on a 9-0 run and USC is lucky to still be in this one.

The Trojans didn't convert a field goal in the last five and a half minutes of the half. Oumar Ballo is locking down the paint for the Wildcats, recording three monster blocks to go with a game-high seven points and seven rebounds.

Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis have six points apiece for USC. Bronny James is scoreless so far, missing his only two 3-point attempts.

3:52 p.m.: Pelle Larsson buries his first triple of the game to give Arizona a 23-16 lead at the under-4 media timeout. The team stats are ugly in the first half. USC is shooting 7-for-24 (29.2 percent) from the field and 2-for-9 (22.2 percent) from 3 with eight turnovers.

3:46 p.m.: Bronny James checks back into the game and immediately forces a turnover. This game has turned into a rock fight, as neither team can get anything going offensively. They are both shooting under 40 percent from the field. Arizona leads USC 19-16 with five minutes remaining in the half.

3:38 p.m.: We're in for a battle in Las Vegas. Arizona leads USC 16-14 at the under-8 media timeout, but the Trojans are out-hustling the Wildcats. USC is struggling to score — shooting 33.3 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3 — but it has three offensive rebounds, six steals and three blocks, forcing seven Arizona turnovers.

3:35 p.m.: Bronny James soars for an offensive rebound and, after Isaiah Collier misses the follow-up, James comes up with a steal with full-court pressure. USC still leaves the possession empty-handed, though.

3:30 p.m.: Bronny James checks into the game just before the under-12 media timeout. Arizona leads USC 12-10 with 11:47 to play in the first half.

3:24 p.m.: Arizona rattles off a quick 8-0 run to take a 10-4 lead but Boogie Ellis answers with back-to-back 3-pointers to calm the Trojans and even the score at 10.

3:18 p.m.: Caleb Love is letting USC hear it after knocking down a transition 3-pointer to give Arizona a 7-4 lead heading into the under-16 timeout. Love was held to just two points in the Wildcats' loss to the Trojans over the weekend. The star transfer is playing with a different level of energy today.

3:15 p.m.: Intensity is up and the stars are already going at it. Isaiah Collier and Caleb Love are exchanging words just three minutes into the game.

3:13 p.m.: Keshad Johnson knocks down a jumper off of a USC turnover and this game is underway as Arizona strikes first.

Pregame

3:00 p.m.: Arizona, the Pac-12 regular season champions, will start Caleb Love, Kylan Boswell, Pelle Larsson, Keshad Johnson and Oumar Ballo.

3:00 p.m.: USC will start Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier, Kobe Johnson, DJ Rodman and Joshua Morgan. Bronny James will resume his normal role off the bench.

USC vs. Arizona start time

  • Date: Thursday, March 14
  • Time: 3 p.m. ET | 12 p.m. PT

USC vs. Arizona will tip off around 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 14. The game will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

What channel is USC vs. Arizona on today?

  • TV channel: Pac-12 Network
  • Live stream: Sling

USC vs. Arizona will air on the Pac-12 Network. Viewers can also stream the game live on Sling.

Sling is the home for sports fans, as it offers a wide range of channels. You can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.

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Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.