USC basketball: Trojans fall on road to Oregon State, 51-45

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Earlier this week, USC Coach Kevin O’Neill asked other teams to pressure his squad.

Oregon State was ever so happy to oblige, and behind its 1-3-1 zone defense, forced the Trojans back into their turnover-prone habits and won, 51-45, tonight in Corvallis, Ore.

USC trailed 48-45 with less than a minute to play, but failed to score and was forced to foul, pushing the game to free-throws.

USC was averaging 17 turnovers a game through nine this season, but seemed to improve its ball handling in its last 10 games, averaging only 11.8.

In this one, USC’s unofficial tally was 20.

-- Baxter Holmes, reporting from Corvallis, Ore.

Related: Photos of USC-Oregon State game