LAS VEGAS — In a highly anticipated season opener, the No. 21 USC Trojans showcased their prowess, employing a dynamic two-pronged strategy to secure an 82-69 win over the Kansas State Wildcats. The thrilling showdown unfolded at the T-Mobile Arena, as part of the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
USC coach Andy Enfield, while acknowledging the significance of the victory, was quick to highlight the room for improvement.
"I think we'll use this as a learning experience," Enfield commented. "It was a big win for us, but we didn't play perfectly. So we'll go back and look at the video and hopefully improve next game."
The star of the evening, fifth-year guard Boogie Ellis, cemented the win by sinking two crucial free throws with just 90 seconds remaining, sealing USC's double-digit lead for good. In a dazzling display of skill, he followed this up with a challenging floater, even as he fell to the hardwood. Ellis expressed his team's composure and experience, saying, "We've got a lot of vets and people that are experienced and been through it. So we just stayed calm, came together, and just stayed calm." Ellis concluded the night with an impressive 24 points, complemented by eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Ellis played a pivotal role in USC's dominant defensive performance, holding Kansas State to a mere 31% shooting from the field. The Trojans' relentless pressure on the perimeter, coupled with strong help defense, forced 17 turnovers from their opponents.
"We held them to 31% from the field," Enfield noted. "They missed 49 shots, so a percentage of those are going to go to them, but 23 offensive rebounds — four of them were team rebounds — but that's too many. I thought in the second half we were more physical and more focused on it."
Freshman guard Isaiah Collier, making his college debut, delivered an outstanding performance, contributing 18 points, with 15 of those coming in the first half. Enfield commended Collier, stating, "I thought Isaiah played a great first half. First game on a big stage here in Las Vegas, I thought it was important for us to get out to a fast start. I thought Boogie and Isaiah really controlled the tempo in the first half."
Collier's impressive debut also included six assists, but he fouled out with just under five minutes to play in regulation. Reflecting on his performance, he admitted,
"I definitely made a lot of mistakes in this game, as far as turnovers and fouls as well, so just being smart overall when I'm in trouble. I just have to be smarter down the stretch for sure."
The Trojans saw strong contributions from Kobe Johnson and Joshua Morgan, who both posted double-digit scores with 16 and 11 points, respectively.
In a touching moment, Bronny James was present at the game, although he did not take the court. His father, LeBron James, shared with reporters in Miami that Bronny would undergo medical evaluations in a month to gain clearance for practice and gradually return to the court after experiencing a collapse during a practice due to a previously undiagnosed heart defect.
