Metu helps USC rally past Colorado
The last-minute play was drawn up something like this: Get the ball down low to lanky big man Chimezie Metu and let him do his thing.
His team showed confidence in him. So he showed confidence in himself.
Metu scored 24 points, including a go-ahead hook shot with 29 seconds remaining, and No. 25 USC held off host Colorado 71-68 on Sunday night.
“It feels really good for them to have confidence in me,” Metu said.
It’s easy to see why the Trojans (16-3, 3-3 Pac-12) show faith in him: Metu had 20 points in the first half with an array of hooks, mid-range jumpers and dunks.
On his winner, Metu arced a shot over his defender moments after Xavier Johnson gave the Buffaloes a one-point lead on a three-pointer.
“He played a terrific basketball game,” USC coach Andy Enfield said. “He was active, he got into a little foul trouble so we had to take him out, but in this altitude it was probably a blessing for him to sit on the bench for a few minutes.”
George King had a final chance to tie it at the buzzer, but his shot bounced off the rim. Those often go in on a person’s birthday, too.
“Supposed to, but it didn’t this time,” said King, who turned 23 on Sunday.
USC trailed by 11 points midway through the first half and rallied, which is nothing new for this team. The Trojans have eight wins after falling behind by nine or more points.
“We’ve been there before,” Metu said. “We just had to come out and execute and make some stops.”
King finished with 16 points and Johnson added 15 for the Buffaloes (10-8, 0-5).
#22 Cincinnati 55, E. Carolina 46: Kyle Washington had 16 points and 11 rebounds as the visiting Bearcats (15-2, 5-0 American Athletic) won their eighth straight. Freshman Elijah Hughes scored 18 points in his first start for the Pirates (9-10, 1-5).
WOMEN
#2 Baylor 92, Kansas 43: Kalani Brown scored 16 points, Nina Davis added 15 and the visiting Bears (17-2, 6-0 Big 12) ran out to a 10-0 lead in the first four minutes and were up by 23 at halftime in routing the Jayhawks (6-11, 0-6). #5 S. Carolina 84, LSU 61: Alaina Coates had 24 points
and 11 rebounds and the visiting Gamecocks (15-1, 5-0 SEC) won their ninth in a row. Chloe Jackson had 24 points for LSU (14-4, 3-2). #7 Florida St. 86, Clemson 27: Ama Degbeon scored 13 points and the visiting Seminoles (17-2, 5-1) had their biggest winning margin in 26 seasons in the ACC. #9 Louisville 63, #14 Miami 59: Mariya Moore scored 24 points for the host Cardinals (16-4, 4-2 ACC). #8 Washington 65, #19
Arizona State 54: Kelsey Plum scored 15 of her 34 points in the fourth quarter to help the visiting Huskies pull away. Plum, the nation’s leading scorer, helped Washington (18-2, 6-1 Pac-12) remain alone atop the conference standings. Reili Richardson had 11 points for Arizona State (13-4, 4-2). #10 Oregon St. 74, USC 60: Kolbie Orum scored 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting and had nine rebounds for the visiting Beavers (16-2, 5-1 Pac-12), who rebounded from a 66-56 loss to No. 17 UCLA on Friday night. Sadie Edwards had 17 points for the Trojans (10-7, 1-6). #17 UCLA 79, Oregon 63: Monique Billings scored 30 points and had 14 rebounds and six steals to lead the Bruins (13-4, 4-2 Pac 12) to their 22nd straight home victory. Freshman Ruthy Hebard led the Ducks (12-6, 2-4) with 29 points.