LOS ANGELES — Known for being aggressive on both ends of the court, Tiegbe Bamba wondered how his explosiveness would recover after an Achilles’ injury that kept him out last season.
He found out in Portland State’s opener, when he scored 19 points in the Vikings’ 76-68 victory over Southern California on Saturday night.
“I was a little nervous at the beginning of the game because this was my first game since my injury,” said Bamba, who previously played at two junior colleges. “I wanted to prove I could compete. This win gives our team confidence and motivation to start the season.”
Braxton Tucker added 16, and Tim Douglas and Bryce White had 14 each for the Vikings, who improved to 5-48 all-time against Pac-12 schools. It was the first meeting between the schools in 37 years.
“This was exciting and it’s a really good win for our team,” Douglas said. “We showed that we are a good team and can play with Pac-12 teams. We came out and took their best punch. We were ready for it and we came right back at them.”
Jordan McLaughlin had 19 points and seven turnovers in his college debut for the Trojans, who briefly took a one-point lead in the second half but could never stretch it out. Coach Andy Enfield started his second season with a loss, just like last year, when USC went 11-21 and won just two Pac-12 games.
“It was fun being out there but it was kind of sad we didn’t come out with a win,” McLaughlin said.
UNLV transfer Katin Reinhardt added 11 points for the Trojans, who have no seniors and 11 freshmen or sophomores on the 14-man roster.
Charlotte transfer Darion Clark scored three of the Trojans’ five straight points in a run that gave them their only lead of the second half, 48-47.
“We’re a young team. We didn’t follow coach’s game plan,” Clark said. “He’s been preaching all week keep guys out of the paint.”
The Trojans controlled the boards, 43-25, but their 23 turnovers led to 31 points by the Vikings.
“It wasn’t sloppy play, it was poor decision making,” Enfield said. “The 23 turnovers is why we lost the game.”
The Vikings answered the Trojans’ run with seven consecutive points, highlighted by Bamba’s 3-pointer and his steal and fastbreak layup that put them ahead 54-48. It was part of a dominant closing stretch that eventually saw the Vikings lead by 12.
“He played a great game,” Enfield said of Bamba.
USC closed within one on a basket by Reinhardt with 7:16 to play. But the Vikings maintained their steady offense, going on a late 10-0 run in which Tucker and DaShaun Wiggins scored four points each.
“We felt we could come in here and win,” Portland State coach Tyler Geving said. “I thought our defense played especially well in forcing 23 turnovers. Our senior guards are battle-tested and really showed excellent leadership.”
The Vikings opened the game on a 19-12 run that produced a seven-point lead. The Trojans outscored them 11-3, including a 3-pointer by McLaughlin, to take a 23-22 lead.
But Portland State ran off 13 unanswered points, with Douglas hitting two 3-pointers, as part of a 17-9 spurt that sent the Pilots into halftime leading 39-32.
TIP INS
Portland St.: The Vikings had just four turnovers. … Lost to USC 87-78 in the schools’ first meeting on Jan. 20, 1978. … The Vikings were 17-15 last season.
USC: The Trojans outshot the Vikings 53 percent to 39 percent.
UP NEXT
Portland St.: Host Willamette on Tuesday.
USC: Host Tennessee Tech on Monday.
OFF NIGHT
USC’s Nikola Jovanovic, who started 24 games as a freshman last season, had just six points, seven rebounds and six turnovers. “I’m the most surprised person in this arena he didn’t play well,” Enfield said.
JC TRANSFERS
Bamba, Braxton, Tucker and White are among Portland State’s junior college transfers.
“We came in confident and we proved that JC transfers can play at this level,” Braxton said. “Our whole team has bought into the system and it’s paying off.”
