Corvallis, OR – It was another hard-fought home game as Oregon State played USC. Key mistakes down the stretch and missed opportunities doomed the home team as USC escaped with a 74-67 win. The Beavers led in the latter part of the game, however 6-10 junior forward Drew Eubanks and 6-6 freshman forward Alfred Hollins spent time on the bench due to foul trouble.. With a little over eight minutes to play and a lead of 54-47, the Beavers began making critical mistakes and missing assignments on the defensive end of the floor. The Trojans then ran off 18 straight points and came away with the 74-67 victory.
For Oregon State two of the juniors from the starting lineup competed well in the losing battle. 6-4 junior guard Stephen Thompson Jr. is improving each game in his penetration in the paint, creating shots for himself and his teammates and his leadership. Thompson Jr. was very effective on both ends of the floor ending the game with 16 points, three rebounds, two assists, and five steals. Defensively he is starting to anticipate the ball in the passing lanes with his athletic length and footwork. He’s getting tougher as he is competing on the floor for loose balls. 6-8 junior forward Tres Tinkle has a smooth shooting stroke and range. Tinkle fought had and had 21 points, seven rebounds and one assist. He is a very competitive wing and is displaying good footwork and hustle on the both ends of the floor. Ball handling and strength will be the next element of development for Tinkle to improve his chances to play at the next level. 6-8 senior forward Seth Berger led the Beavers with six assists, as he continues to provide more and more confidence and leadership.
For USC 6-5 senior guard Elijah Stewart played a solid game from the wing position scoring 18 points on 5-of-10 FG (4-8 3PT) and 4-of-4 FT shooting to go along with two rebounds and two assists. He displayed good shooting touch, technique, and trajectory on all of his shots. Stewart is very effective in the catch and shoot sets and has a soft touch. A primarily right hand ball handler and shooter, he’s creative, elusive, and versatile enough to get around the defenders with his ball handling. He also brings length to compliment his athletic build with nice bounce off the floor. Defensively Stewart is a good defender with good footwork. 6-11 junior forward Chimezie Metu had 12 points, four rebounds, three blocks and a assist in a game where his height, wing span, speed, and athleticism was presence all over the floor. Metu runs the floor extremely well, has good lateral footwork, and is an outstanding leaper. A total shot blocking presence who displays a nice soft touch for a guy his size, as demonstrated in this game as he made 8-of-8 free throws. He has a good shooting touch, with good rotational backspin. Metu likely has an NBA future.
Interesting Stats
- USC led 24:42 of game
- Assists: USC 16 – OSU 12
- 3-Point Shooting: USU 43.5 percent (10-of-23) – OSU 22.2 percent (4-of-18)
Oregon State (11-8, 3-4) visits Oregon (13-7, 3-4) next Saturday at 5pm
This article was written by Lorenzo Leaks, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter. We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout certification program. For information contact us and forward your resume.
