USCs season ends in frustrating loss to Purdue in | College News

INDIANAPOLIS — Desmond Claude sprinted as fast as he may down the hardwood, understanding the season was in his palms and valuable time was ticking off the clock. He already tried as soon as earlier than to tie it, flying into the fray for a floater that bounced off the back iron.

But a missed free throw gave Claude hope as he got here flying throughout halfcourt, just for his handoff go to be snatched amid a crashing assortment of our bodies. Suddenly, after such a gutsy struggle, any hope of USC’s season surviving had slipped away in a 76-71 loss to Purdue.

The season-ending steal was not with out controversy. Wesley Yates threw his palms up in disbelief. Coach Eric Musselman whispered expletives underneath his breath, shaking his head.

All recreation, USC (16-17) had held in a impasse with Purdue (22-10), refusing to let up. Even because the roars of Purdue followers echoed with every back-and-forth run, USC stored coming back. They fought by way of early foul hassle from Claude, who completed with 18 factors, and early struggles with Yates, who had 13 factors.

They’d already been by way of a battle the evening earlier than, a double-overtime thriller that noticed all 5 of the Trojans’ starters play more than 40 minutes. But all season, Musselman had pushed his small rotation to the brink, and Thursday, USC confirmed no indicators of slowing.

It survived with out its prime scorer for long stretches. Claude picked up two fast fouls in the primary half, and Musselman selected to sit him for the ultimate 13 minutes. He returned in the second half, solely to draw two more fast fouls.

With each groups deadlocked, Musselman introduced Claude back in with simply over 10 minutes remaining, understanding he had no different alternative. From there, the Trojans flooring common made up for misplaced time, in spite of his 4 fouls. He shook off a defender and hit a pull-up. Then he did it again. And again.

Claude scored 10 straight for the Trojans, hitting a pull-up with underneath a minute remaining to tie it.

With 28 seconds left and the sport tied 71-71, Rashaun Agee was referred to as for a foul, sending Purdue’s main scorer, Trey Kaufman-Renn to the road. He hit each.

Claude wasted no time in attempting to tie it up again, flying by way of the lane for a floater. But it bounced off the iron.

USC obtained one more likelihood, after Kaufman-Renn missed one other free throw. This time, although, their final hopes was stripped at halfcourt.