USC Vs. Bradley: Trojans Lose On Last-Second Foul

Springfield, MA (Sports Network) - Sam Maniscalco connected on three consecutive free throws with 0.3 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Bradley Braves a thrilling, 64-63, victory over the USC Trojans in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic at MassMutual Center. Maniscalco led the way for Bradley (4-0) with 17 points, while Walt Lemon Jr. added 13 points off the bench. Andrew Warren contributed 14 points in the victory.

Nikola Vucevic's double-double of 22 points and 15 rebounds led the way for USC (2-2), while Bryce Jones added 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. Donte Smith and Garrett Jackson tallied 12 points apiece in the loss. The Trojans went into the break with a 31-23 lead after holding Bradley to a meager 32.1 percent shooting effort in the first half. The Braves stormed back however, as the Braves shot 52.0 percent from the field, and nailed 6-of-8 three-point attempts, en route to the one-point win. Bradley shot a mediocre 41.5 percent from the field and connected on 8-of-19 three-point attempts.

For more information on USC hoops, check out the SB Nation blog Conquest Chronicles.

USC Vs. Bradley: Trojans Aim To Regroup In Massachusetts

Unranked USC basketball will look to rebound from its largest margin of defeat in Galen Center history Saturday, as it travels to Springfield, Mass., to take part in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic at the MassMutual Center. But a win will be anything but a formality, as the Trojans are set to face an undefeated Bradley team that returns four starters and nine letterman from a team that had a strong showing in conference play a season ago.

In many ways, however, 'SC has its own set of issues to attend to. 

During the team's 77-57 home loss to Rider on Wednesday, the Trojans allowed the visiting Broncs to shoot 60 percent from the field, and en even higher 63.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, while making just 37.7 percent of its field goal attempts and one of its 15 3-pointers.  

It was a far cry from Monday's showing against Santa Clara, in which it amassed 86 points, while freshman point guard Maurice Jones and junior forward Nikola Vucevic finished with 29 and 22 points respectively. 

But fatigue may be reason enough for some of the team's recent issues, after playing three home games in a five-day span. 

Presently, though, they remain just three games into a stretch of eight games in 17 days, the most games they have had in a 17-day period since the 1983-1984 season.  

For more information on USC hoops, check out the SB Nation blog Conquest Chronicles.