Day 3 Recap & Analysis of Men's Pac-10 Tournament
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Jamelle Horne blocks Alex Stepheson's shot to help Arizona advance to the conference championship game. (Shotgun Spratling)
On the third day of the men's Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament, top seed Arizona matches up with USC while the upstart Oregon Ducks will try for another upset, this time against No. 4 seed Washington.
We will be keeping you updated on all of the Day 3 proceedings here. So check back as we update this page throughout the day.
Follow along with all of Neon Tommy's Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament coverage, including the women's tournament.
(All men's games are being played at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.)
Game 7: Arizona Survives Against USC
Arizona 67, USC 62
Recap: The battle today between Arizona and USC may have ended on the court at Staples Center, but it started last night after an altercation between USC coach Kevin O’Neill and an Arizona booster. There was a little bit of bad blood coming in between these teams, and USC came out hungry looking to move on to the championship game while potentially securing an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.
Both teams came out hot, especially USC guard Marcus Simmons. He led all scorers with 11 points in the first half. Arizona maintained the lead for most of the first half, but USC kept firing back any time the Wildcats tried to break the game open. There were six ties in the first half with neither team leading by more than six points.
However, in the hectic final seconds of the half, USC forward Nikola Vucevic missed an open 3-pointer. Arizona guard Kevin Parrom grabbed a long rebound and found Derrick Williams streaking for a breakaway dunk to end the half, putting the Wildcats up 33-28.
Maurice Jones dishes a no-look pass to a cutting teammate. (Shotgun Spratling)
In the second half, Arizona pushed its lead to 12 points, but the Trojans fought back, chipping away at the lead. Simmons, known for his defensive prowess, continued his hot shooting, leading USC with 20 points in the game. Unfortunately for the Trojans, the Wildcats were able to hit timely 3-pointers and knocked down their free throws down the stretch. In a valiant effort, the Trojans fought to the end, but Arizona came out with the victory 67-62.
Quote: “One of our strengths is we can play 10 deep. The first group knows they have to trust in us to come in and keep a steady pace. As for us coming in, coach always stresses since we’re fresh off the bench, to come in with a lot of energy.” – Arizona freshman guard Jordin Mayes
Player of the Game: Derrick Williams (Arizona)
Williams continued his stellar tournament play with another amazing game going 7-of-10 from the field with 20 points. He led the Wildcats with 20 points and sealed the game for Arizona by hitting four free throws in the final minute.
What it Means: The Trojans' loss puts them in limbo as far as receiving an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The most recent report by ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi had USC as one of the last four teams into the tournament, but you never know what will happen in the selection process. The Trojans have to sit and wait for Sunday now.
With the win, the Wildcats move into the Pac-10 championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday versus either a tough Washington team, or a surging Oregon team. The win can only help Arizona’s seeding in the NCAA Tournament, and the Wildcats' shooting could potentially get hotter considering they will be facing a team in the lower half of the Pac-10 defensive spectrum.
Game 8: Washington Handles Surging Ducks
Washington 69, Oregon 51
Terrence Ross emphatically slams home a basket against Oregon in the Pac-10 Tournament. (Shotgun Spratling)
Recap: The Oregon Ducks looked to carry the momentum from their two huge wins in the conference tournament. They were able to score the first basket of the game.
And then...Washington (22-10) hit a 3-pointer and never looked back. The Huskies dominated from start to finish, never relinquishing the lead after the 17:25 mark in the first half.
Washington received a boost from guard Scott Suggs off the bench. Suggs led all scorers at the half with eight points. The Huskies held the Ducks to 34.6 percent shooting from the field and 2-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
The second half was no different than the first. Oregon continued its shooting troubles, going 30 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Ducks were unable to carry over their hot shooting from their previous two tournament wins. They only scored nine field goals in the second half, of which guard Malcom Armstead and forward Joevan Catron made three each.
The Huskies exploded for 39 points in the second half led by freshman guard C.J. Wilcox, and effectively drowned any chances the Ducks had of stealing a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Final score: 69-51.
Quote: “Very pleased with our guys’ effort. Second game in a row we had a team contribution, and that’s something that can make you really excited as coaches when everyone chips in and does a great job for you” – Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar
Player of the Game: Isaiah Thomas (Washington)
He may not have had his best night shooting (2-for-11), but for the second straight game, Isaiah Thomas recorded a double-double. Against the Ducks, Thomas scored 10 points and dished out 12 assists, which tied a Pac-10 Tournament record, to help lead his team to victory.
What it Means: With the win, the Huskies are now a lock for the NCAA Tournament. Washington now moves on to the Pac-10 championship game where they will face number one seeded Arizona. 
Isaiah Thomas and C.J. Wilcox celebrate a four-point play in Washington's Pac-10 Tournament semifinal game. (Shotgun Spratling)
The Huskies and the Wildcats split the season series, with each winning on their home court. At the Staples Center, both teams have been well represented by their fans, essentially making this game a toss-up. The two teams will face off in a nationally televised matchup at 3 p.m.
Oregon finishes their season one-game under .500 despite fifth-year senior Joevan Catron's 18-point, nine rebound performance. However, with only Catron and Jay-R Strowbridge graduating, the Ducks could be a team to watch out for next season.
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To reach Victor Marticorena, click here, or follow him on Twitter @GrandpapaSports.
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