USC lets Providence win in final seconds

RALEIGH, N.C. – USC did everything possible to lose to Providence in the final minute Thursday night and the Trojans finally paid when they forgot to cover Friars forward Rodney Bullock, who made a layup with 1.5 seconds left and a 70-69 victory at PNC Arena.

The Trojans could only blame themselves. They led 69-68 when guard Jordan McLaughlin inexplicably forced a drive to the basket and missed a layup with 39 seconds left. Elijah Stewart missed the front of a one-and-one with 27 seconds and Julian Jacobs missed another one-and-one with 12 seconds left to give Providence countless opportunities.

The Friars missed a shot but the ball went off Stewart with three seconds left to set up the final heroics. Neither team had a timeout. But USC forget to cover Bullock, who is the third-best player on Providence.

This is another illustration of the sometimes undisciplined maer of play that hinders USC under Coach Andy Enfield, especially when protecting a second-half lead.

The nature of the loss with also leave a sour taste for a team that played above expectations this season.

Providence plays No. 1-seeded North Carolina on Saturday before what should be a sold-out crowd that is about 99.9 percent Tar Heels fans.

USC led 68-65 when Friars star guard Kris Du hit a 3-pointer with 1:27 left.

A curious move was Enfield’s decision to play Jacobs, USC’s best player, only five of the first 10 minutes to start the second half. He was removed after dribbling the ball off his foot. But when Jacobs retued, he immediately unleashed a dunk that gave USC a 53-48 lead. Jacobs quickly added another dunk for a 60-53 advantage.

But Providence came back and took a 61-60 lead on a 3-pointer by Rodney Bullock with 5:55 remaining.

The game was considered a toss-up as basically played like one as neither team took a significant lead for most of the contest other than when the Trojans led by seven points.

USC (21-3) opened a 51-46 lead with 9:53 remaining as the Trojans made six of 10 shots while Providence (24-10) made only two of 10 shots.

USC played a zone defense the entire game. Initially, Providence made four of its first seven 3-point shots to take a 24-17 lead. But the Friars cooled off and shot 40 percent overall.

The Trojans were lucky because Du played only 10 minutes in the first half after picking up two fouls.

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Enfield also made an unusual substitution by playing reserve Malik Marquetti in the first half. Marquetti rarely played this season but played six minutes against Providence in the first half and scored two points.

Notes: USC forward Darion Clark did not suit up and wore a sling around his right arm after reinjuring his shoulder during a Selection Sunday practice at the Galen Center. Clark separated his shoulder earlier in the season . . . Athletic director Pat Haden did not make the trip, which was not surprising since he has not flown to road events since falling at the Notre Dame football game last October . . . Former USC All-American guard Gus Williams, who had his jersey retired in February, attended the game . . . USC coach Andy Enfield watched the first half of the North Carolina-Florida Gulf Coast game sitting behind the the FGCU bench. Enfield took Florida Gulf Coast to the Sweet 16 in 2013 . . . Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott attended the game.