Drew Peterson’s late three-pointer lifts No. 16 USC past Oregon

USC coach Andy Enfield instructs Drew Peterson against Oregon on Feb. 26, 2022.

By Steve Mims

Associated Press

Feb. 26, 2022 Updated 10:29 PM PT

EUGENE, Ore. — Drew Peterson scored 20 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with 11.5 seconds remaining, and No. 16 USC defeated Oregon 70-69 on Saturday night.

Isaiah Mobley added 17 points for the Trojans (25-4, 14-4 Pac-12 Conference), who set a school record for most wins in the regular season.

“Very proud of [our] players. We played an outstanding game,” USC coach Andy Enfield said. “It was a hostile environment, a lot of energy in the building. It was a great crowd. Their students were swearing at our players and throwing things in the tunnel afterwards, but we came through with a big road win.”

Quincy Guerrier scored 15 points for Oregon (18-10, 11-6), while De’Vion Harmon added 13, N’Faly Dante had 12 and Jacob Young scored 11.

The Ducks shot 38.7% from the field, including six for 23 on three-pointers.

“I thought we rushed a few of them,” Oregon coach Dana Altman said of the three-pointers. “I thought we were too aggressive at times. We [want] guys to be aggressive, but I thought we rushed a few.”

USC forward Kobe Johnson (2) rejoices in the Trojans' win over Oregon on Feb. 26, 2022.

Guerrier put the Ducks ahead 69-67 on a three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining before Peterson answered with his three-pointer. Oregon’s Will Richardson missed a shot at the buzzer.

“That was definitely cool,” Peterson said. “We set a high ball screen, and they went under it. I saw a bit of space and decided to pull up. Thankfully it went in. Then we got a stop. We worked our butts off tonight. Everyone contributed, and we won in a crazy environment.”

With 3:04 left to play, Young beat the shot clock with a deep three-pointer to put Oregon ahead 64-61 before Mobley made two free throws for the Trojans. Harmon then drove for an Oregon basket before Max Agbonkpolo answered with a bucket to get USC to within 66-65 with 1:26 to play.

Mobley drove for a basket that put the Trojans up 67-66 with 41 seconds left, but Guerrier followed with a three-pointer for the Ducks.

Oregon's Jacob Young shoots over USC's Joshua Morgan (24) during the first half Feb. 26, 2022.

USC went up 51-45 on a dunk by Chevez Goodwin before Harmon followed with a three-pointer for the Ducks. Kobe Johnson followed with a bucket for the Trojans before Oregon scored six straight points to take the lead on two free throws by Dante.

The Trojans went back into the lead on a three-pointer by Mobley with 7:52 left in the game.

Oregon rallied from an 12-point deficit in the first half to take a 32-31 lead at the break.

The Ducks tied the score at 17 on a bucket from Dante before USC followed with 11 points in a row. Peterson scored seven points during the stretch before Goodwin made a couple of free throws to put the Trojans ahead 28-17.

Reese Dixon-Waters made a three-pointer to put USC ahead 31-19 with 4:57 left in the half before Oregon scored the final 13 points before halftime. Eric Williams Jr. dunked twice during that span before Harmon made a free throw to get the Ducks to within 31-29.

Young added a free throw and Guerrier added two more free throws to put Oregon into the lead at the break.

Big picture

USC: The Trojans are 25-4 to set a record for best start in school history. ... USC has won 72 games over the last three seasons, matching the school record set from 2016 to 2018. ... Junior guard Boogie Ellis, who ranks third on the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game, returned to the starting lineup after missing Thursday’s game at Oregon State because of an ankle injury.

Oregon: Oregon is 59-69 all time against USC, but Altman is 15-7 against the Trojans during his time with the Ducks. ... Oregon sits alone in fourth place in the Pac-12 heading into the final week of the regular season as it looks to wrap up a first-round bye in the conference tournament.