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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, December 23, 2004

USC topples UAB on late 3-pointer

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Southern California's Rory O'Neil has always had a shooter's touch, and last night the 6-foot-11 center showed Alabama at Birmingham his prolific offensive skills.

Southern California's Rory O'Neil sinks the winning 3-pointer over the defense of Alabama at Birmingham's Demario Eddins.

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

O'Neil hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with four seconds remaining as the Trojans stunned the Blazers, 81-78, in a semifinal of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.

"It was a big shot," said USC guard Gabriel Pruitt, whose pass set up O'Neil's basket. "O'Neil's a good shooter. For a big guy, he can shoot probably better than some of the guards we played against. We knew he was going to knock down the shot."

The Trojans (6-3) fended off the Blazers (6-3) to win their fourth consecutive game. USC will play Hawai'i for the championship at 7:30 tonight.

UAB rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit and went ahead 77-75 on Demario Eddins' basket with 1:21 to play.

Pruitt responded with a 3-pointer that just beat the 35-second shot clock for a 78-77 USC lead.

On the ensuing possession, Ronell Taylor was fouled with 39 seconds left. He hit one of two free throws to tie the score at 78.

Following two USC timeouts, O'Neil sealed the game with his big shot. Like Pruitt's basket, O'Neil's shot was released just before the 35-second shot clock expired.

"Gabe drew a couple of defenders and he kicked it out back to me, and I just had to catch and shoot because time was running out," said O'Neil who made two 3s in the game. "Thank goodness, it went in."

UAB had a chance to tie the score, but Eddins missed a last-second 3-point attempt.

"The guys hit some — I don't want to call them lucky — but some nice shots at the end of the game," UAB's Donell Taylor said. "It's a heartbreaker for us."

USC fared well against UAB's vaunted pressure defense during crunch time. USC finished with 18 turnovers, but had just seven in the second half.

"We did a great job handling their pressure," USC interim head coach Jim Saia said. "Derrick Craven and Gabe Pruitt, it's just like having two point guards out there."

USC outrebounded UAB 42-32, including 16-9 on the offensive glass, and outscored UAB 12-6 on second-chance points.

UAB didn't help itself at the free-throw line, shooting 22 of 34.

"We used a lot of energy to get back in the game," UAB coach Mike Anderson said. "If we make free throws, then the game is ours to have."

USC's Pruitt scored a team-high 15 points. Lodrick Stewart added 14, and O'Neil and Nick Young scored 13 each.

Donell Taylor led UAB with 19 points. Taylor's twin brother, Ronell, and Eddins added 11 each, and Marques Lewis has 10.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 81, ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM 78

UAB (6-3)

Johnson 3-5 0-0 6, D.Taylor 5-10 8-10 19, R.Taylor 4-8 3-4 11, Lewis 4-8 2-2 10, Eddins 2-10 7-12 11, McDonald 1-5 0-0 2, Little 2-5 0-0 4, Jones 1-4 0-2 3, Broom 3-3 0-0 8, Tobias 1-1 2-4 4. Totals 26-59 22-34 78.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (6-3)

Young 5-14 2-3 13, Curtis 0-5 5-6 5, Stewart 6-10 0-2 14, O'Neil 5-8 1-1 13, Pruitt 6-13 0-0 15, Guenther 2-2 3-4 7, McMillan 2-9 1-2 5, Shackleford 1-2 0-0 2, E.Craven 0-0 2-2 2, D.Craven 1-1 2-3 5. Totals 28-64 16-23 81.

Halftime—Southern California 42, UAB 36. 3-Point goals—UAB 4-16 (Johnson 0-2, D.Taylor 1-4, R.Taylor 0-1, Eddins 0-1, McDonald 0-4, Jones 1-2, Broom 2-2), Southern California 9-21 (Young 1-4, Stewart 2-6, O'Neil 2-4, Pruitt 3-7, D.Craven 1-1). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—UAB 32 (D.Taylor 9), Southern California 42 (Young 7). Assists—UAB 11 (Johnson 4), Southern California 20 (Pruitt 6). Total fouls—UAB 17, Southern California 21. A—NA.