Cold Shooting Dooms Arizona in 57-48 Loss a USC

Thursday, February 27

Los Angeles, Calif.

8:00 PM

University of Arizona

19-9,9-6Pac-12

USC

20-9,9-7Pac-12

Team	1	2	F
Arizona	21	27	48
Southern California	26	31	57

02/27/2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Arizona Athletics

LOS ANGELES – Arizona's 28.1 percent shooting from the field plagued the Wildcats in their 57-48 loss at USC on Thursday evening. The Trojans pushed a two-point lead to five points going into halftime after freshman Onyeka Okongwu made a three-quarter court shot as the clock ran down before intermission. Okongwu would finish with 11 points and 10 rebounds as Jonah Matthews chipped in 14 points to lead the Trojans.

Zeke Nnaji grabbed his 13^th double-double of the season for Arizona in the loss with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Nnaji has now recorded the second most double-doubles by a UA freshman in program history, trailing only Deandre Ayton's 24 double-doubles during the 2017-18 season.

Arizona would hang around throughout the second half courtesy of the 15 turnovers forced. The Wildcats cut the deficit to four points with 2:52 remaining after a pair of Nnaji free throws. The visitors' cold shooting would be most apparent behind the arc where they connected on just three of their 26 attempts, good for 11.5 percent.

Thursday's loss in the Galen Center comes in Arizona's first game of its Los Angeles swing. The Wildcats will face UCLA in Pauley Pavilion at 7 p.m. (PST) on Saturday, Feb. 29.