SALT LAKE CITY – With 2 points lost at halftime, Utah had scratched and scratched just to keep the game played against No. 19 USC at the Huntsman Center on Saturday night.
But the Utes used a quick 8-0 streak that started with a 3-point play by Pelle Larsson at the top of the bracket and an old-fashioned 3-point play by Timmy Allen to start a second-half recovery. USC coach Andy Enfield saw enough and asked for time to end the Utah wave.
The timeout was just a temporary break, however, as Utah built a 13-point lead and appeared to be in control of a USC team struggling to convert the offensive side of the ball against Utah’s difficult presence in the countryside. The Utes endured the bitter end and defeated the USC 71-61, breaking a four-game skid and winning the season’s most impressive victory just over a week before the Pac-12 tournament.
“If you really have a competitive mindset and a connected mindset, in which you try to do things collectively, I think our team can be very good,” said Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak.
“When you look back, a win is always a bright spot and losses are not a bright spot, but the key now is to click on more cylinders.”
Utah (10-11, 7-10) overcame USC 44-32 in the second half and was led by Alfonso Plummer, who finished with 19 points and three rebounds and was a key component of Utah’s second half with three scores 3 – hands in the second half to mark Utah’s victory. Allen added 15 points and eight assists to give Utah an attacking presence at the post.
USC (19-6, 13-5) tried to press the entire court at the end of the game in an attempt to turn Utah, which ended with 15 game twists – 10 of which occurred in the first half – but Utah did not move and kept the victory.
In the first eight minutes of the game, Utah’s Branden Carlson suffered his second foul – an illegal screen against a USC player already falling to the ground – and Rylan Jones left the game due to what appeared to be another injury to his right shoulder after jumping on the floor to collect a lost ball. At that time, the USC did not give up and controlled a 16-8 lead in what appeared to be the start of a rout in favor of the best Pac-12 team.
That was until freshman Ian Martinez joined the game.
The stats sheet may not have fully shown everything Martinez did to turn the tide, but he was an integral part of Utah’s fight against the USC in the middle of the first half. His fast, active hands managed a pass that was withdrawn for some time in an indisputable dunk, and his aggressive fight on the crossbar gave Utah several second-chance shots, including a 3-point kickout to Alfonso Plummer in the corner for 3 points.
Fighting low again, Martinez fought for a basket under the hoop with three USC defenders around him and got the kick to fall and the mark that followed the free-throw line to complete the 3-point play. On the defensive, Martinez blocked a shot and choked off a team from the USC that was trying to make something fall through a crowd of twists.
In the interval, Utah lost by 29-27 and the two teams combined by 19 turnovers. But Martinez was the main reason why Utah kept the game at an attack distance.
“He was instrumental tonight,” said Krystkowiak. “His energy, length and athleticism – he went out on overtaking tracks and got a big steal for us and a dunk, got some other detours; he’s long and he’s fast as a cat.
“He stepped up and did what he can do – stay in the moment and try to win the next move.”
Fresh out of a trip abroad to play for the Finnish national team, Mikael Jantunen returned to the starting lineup for Utes and finished with 6 points, seven rebounds and three assists in victory.
Utah retained USC’s top scorer and likely NBA draft pick, Evan Mobley, with 11 points – seven of which came from the free-throw line – and limited his impact on a game he is used to controlling.
“You can’t take it all out with a player of his caliber,” said Krystkowiak, “but you try – you just keep hitting him with punches in the body, trying to wear them out and make them win everything they can.”
Allen said the effort was a five-man attack on Mobley.
“Playing with a guy like him is not a one-on-one match,” he added. “It takes all of us to set a limit on the maximum number of touches he can get. I think we did a good job.”
Krystkowiak said he did not know the extent of Jones’ shoulder injury, although it looks a little different from how he hurt him a few weeks ago when he forced him to lose four games.
“I know it’s a little different than how he hurt before – my fingers are crossed – but we are all devastated by him, there is no doubt,” said Krystkowiak. “He went after a ball in the style of Rylan, a loose ball on the floor and sprawled and twisted his shoulder again. My heart stopped.
“We talked about it during the break – we lost one of our brothers and we need some guys to come forward and make up for his absence. We will keep him in our thoughts and prayers and hope that we can put him back in court again. It’s a situation sad. “