IN A FLASH, SPANICH MAKES DUCKS VANISH : USC 85, OREGON 84.Byline: Daily News Wire Services Harassed and heckled by the crowd during the entire game, USC's Adam Spanich got the last laugh. Spanich incredibly made two 3-pointers in the final 2.8 seconds, the second from just inside halfcourt, as Trojans stunned stun tr.v. stunned, stun·ning, stuns 1. To daze or render senseless, by or as if by a blow. 2. To overwhelm or daze with a loud noise. 3. Oregon 85-84 Thursday night in the Ducks' home Pac-10 opener. Spanich's game-winning shot came after he intercepted a long inbounds in·bounds adj. 1. Basketball Involving putting the ball into play by passing it from out of bounds to a teammate on the court. 2. Sports Within the designated boundaries. pass from Oregon's A.D. Smith at halfcourt, dribbled once and let loose just as the buzzer expired ex·pire v. ex·pired, ex·pir·ing, ex·pires v.intr. 1. To come to an end; terminate: My membership in the club has expired. 2. . ``I saw him throw it up, intercepted it, aimed and just shot it,'' Spanich said. ``Honestly, I thought it was going to be right on, but short.'' The win capped a remarkable comeback Comeback Australian breed of wool sheep, bred by crossing Merino with Corriedale, Polwarth or Zenith sheep; wool is 21 to 25 microns. It is a registered breed, but the term is more commonly used in the sense of a type of sheep produced by crossbreeding a crossbred Merino back to Merino. by the Trojans (10-2, 2-1), who never led in the game, and who were down by seven points, 81-74, with just under two minutes to play. ``All I can say is that he had a big shot,'' said Trojans coach Henry Bibby Charles Henry Bibby (born November 24, 1949 in Franklinton, North Carolina) is a former professional basketball player and current assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). . ``I have probably coached over 800 games, and that was probably the best shot I have ever seen. The game is never over until the very last second.'' Spanich led USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. with 26 points off the bench. The senior forward converted on 6 of 7 3-pointers, but none was bigger than his last, after which he leaped onto the broadcast table in front of the student section and pumped his fist in the air. ``I just said, `It's over,' '' Spanich said. ``They had been catcalling me and I had been playing with them a little bit, but it was all in fun.'' Oregon (9-3, 1-2) was led by Alex Scales, who had 17 points and nine rebounds. The Ducks led 46-34 at halftime, thanks in large part to connecting on 7 of 13 3-pointers. Oregon built its lead to as much as 16 points five minutes into the second half. But the Trojans made nine 3-pointers from then on, and Oregon missed on 6 of 9 free-throw opportunities in the final 1:07, failing to put away the game. ``The game was lost on mental toughness,'' Oregon coach Ernie Kent Ernie Kent (Born January 22, 1955 in Rockford, Illinois) is the current head men's basketball coach at the University of Oregon. He has been the Ducks' coach since he replaced Jerry Green after Green left for University of Tennessee after the 1996-97 season. said. ``We broke down numerous times in the first half on the boards, and let them get on track shooting the ball. In the last 10, 12 minutes of the game, where we had opportunities to take care of the ball, and on the boards, and put free throws in, we didn't do it.'' Oregon next hosts UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX on Saturday night, while the Trojans face host Oregon State. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO SPANICH |
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