Mobley helps Trojans finish desert sweep
USC wins at both Arizona schools for the first time since 1984-85 season.
USC next
Tuesday vs. UC Riverside, 6 p.m., Galen Center, Pac-12 Networks — USC officially added this game to the schedule last week to make up for a previous nonconference cancellation. After a sweep in the Arizona desert, the Trojans could be prone to a letdown. But three winnable games at home this week could also propel USC into the meat of the Pac-12 season.
— Ryan Kartje
TEMPE, Ariz. — Freshman Evan Mobley had 19 points and a career-best 13 rebounds and USC beat Arizona State 73-64 on Saturday.
The 7-foot Mobley, a likely top-five pick in the 2021 NBA draft, was five for seven shooting and had a careerhigh six blocks. Tahj Eaddy scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half and grabbed nine rebounds and Isaiah Mobley — Evan’s older brother — added 13 points and 10 rebounds for USC (8-2, 3-1 Pac-12).
The Trojans, who beat Arizona 87-73 on Thursday, swept their trip through the desert for the first time since the 1984-85 season.
“It was a big road swing to win two games on the road in Arizona,” coach Andy Enfield said in a postgame videoconference. “We hadn’t won either place. We’ve lost a lot of closed games here. Arizona’s been great at home ...
“It’s a credit to our program and our players.”
Arizona State (4-5, 1-2) was without guards Remy Martin and Jaelen House as well as forwards Jalen Graham and Taeshon Cherry for the second consecutive game, for various reasons. Martin is in coronavirus protocol after missing the UCLA game to attend his grandfather’s funeral.
Senior Holland Woods scored 12 of his season-high 18 points in the final two minutes of the first half as the Sun Devils trimmed at 16point deficit to 36-32. His steal and layup gave Arizona State a 58-56 lead with 7:03 to play.
The Trojans answered with a 15-3 run as Arizona State missed six consecutive shots and committed three turnovers over the next sixplus minutes.
Woods starred at Apollo High School in nearby Glendale, Ariz., and then earned all-Big Sky Conference honors of some sort in each of his three seasons at Portland State before he transferred to Arizona State. He is the Vikings’ career leader in assists (521) and steals (165) and ranks fifth in points (1,387).