USC vs. Providence: Score and Twitter Reaction from March Madness 2017

Things started out pretty great for USC. Then, terribly, terribly wrong. And then, in one fell swoop, the Trojans pulled off a stunning comeback and sent themselves to the first round.

Bennie Boatwright scored 24 points, and Jordan McLaughlin added a double-double as USC came from 17 points down to shock Providence with a 75-71 triumph Wednesday.

ESPN Stats & Info provided context:

USC led 20-15 at around the halfway point of the first half and then watched its lead evaporate as Providence went on a 15-point run. The Trojans went scoreless for nearly five minutes, and they were trailing, 44-29, going into the locker room when the run ended.

Providence stretched the lead to 17 and carried a double-digit advantage in the early part of the second half, but then USC changed the game's complexion. The Trojans, who trailed 52-40 with 12:56 remaining, scored 23 of the game's next 31 points to storm back and take the lead.

They never trailed again after pulling ahead with 6:48 remaining. Sam Vecenie of Sporting News took notice:

USC, which lost to Providence in the round of 64 a year ago, will move on to play sixth-seeded SMU in its East Region opener. The program has not made the round of 32 since former head coach Tim Floyd's final season in 2008-09. Current coach Andy Enfield has taken a Trojans team that hit rock bottom just three years ago to the Big Dance in consecutive seasons.

Here's a not-so-subtle jab at Los Angeles' other basketball institutions by Justin Russo:

Providence shot 49 percent from the floor and found success against USC's defense. Emmitt Holt (18 points), Jalen Lindsey (17 points) and Rodney Bullock (17 points) all had stellar games, and the Friars' ball movement was crisp—particularly in the first half.

Their 29-9 run over the final 10 minutes of the first half was a two-way blitzkrieg. USC could barely keep its head above water defensively as it got beat for open threes and shots near the basket, and the Trojans could not buy a bucket after looking strong early.

Boatwright kept them afloat almost single-handedly at times in the first half, scoring 14 of his 24 points. The sophomore forward added seven rebounds and three assists while also knocking down three shots from beyond the arc.

His performance was enough to make a believer out of former skeptic Vecenie:

Chimezie Metu and McLaughlin started coming through after the break, particularly as USC made its run to get back in control. Metu finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, forcing his way to the free-throw line 12 times (making nine) while also blocking two shots. McLaughlin had 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists from a guard spot.

Perhaps more than anything, USC's physical domination paved the way for its comeback. The Trojans out-rebounded Providence, 36-27, and picked up 16 offensive rebounds. That contributed to USC's edge in shot attempts and a 27-17 advantage at the charity stripe.

USC will also carry the confidence that comes with owning an early-season win over SMU into their matchup Friday. The Trojans earned a 78-73 victory over SMU in Los Angeles back in November.

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Postgame Reaction

USC coach Andy Enfield spoke about facing SMU, per the Associated Press, via Fox Sports: "They’re a terrific basketball team. They have five guys in their starting lineup that are similar to Providence. They’re big, they’re long, they’re very skilled.”

McLaughlin talked about what the win meant: ”Our coaches, they have confidence in us, we have confidence in ourselves. And we know when we’re playing like we did the second half that we’re able to compete with anybody. And it’s just a matter of us just bringing the energy and knocking down shots and just competing all the way to the end.”

Lindsey was disappointed by the second-half effort: ”I think we just got out-toughed in the second half. We weren’t playing with the same passion we were in the first half, and it showed. And they executed their game plan and we kind of faltered back.”