Former conference rivals Southern Cal and Arizona State meet in the championship game of the Maui Invitational on Wednesday at Lahaina, Hawaii.
Southern Cal has never won the tournament, while Arizona State captured the 1994 title – also the last time the Sun Devils even made it to the semifinals.
“You talk about the Maui and all the great history here,” Southern Cal coach Eric Musselman said. “We got 40 minutes to try to win this thing.”
Southern Cal (6-0) and Arizona State (6-1) – teams previously in the Pac-12 – have already been involved in drama-filled games in the tournament.
Southern Cal held off Seton Hall for an 83-81 victory in Tuesday’s first semifinal. Later, Arizona State overcame Washington State – another former Pac-12 clash – 100-94, boosted by a 58-point second half.
“I like our perseverance,” Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said. “We had the deficit and we responded.”
Moe Odum scored 26 points for Arizona State.
“Big-time plays,” Hurley said. “He’s been a killer for us here.”
Southern Cal’s Ezra Ausar made 15 of 19 free throws vs. Seton Hall, marking a major upgrade.
“He has spent a lot of time working on his free-throw percentage because it was not good early,” Musselman said. “And now, we actually feel really comfortable with him going to the line.”
The Trojans will have concerns about the status of Rodney Rice, who sat out most of the second half Tuesday because of a shoulder injury. It might have been a re-aggravation of a summer ailment.
“If he plays, great,” Musselman said. “If he doesn’t, somebody else has to step up.”
Southern Cal’s last three games have been decided by one, three and two points.
“We’re trying to survive,” Musselman said. “Playing close games might be a formula for us and then try to figure it out the last 10 minutes.”
Even with lineup adjustments, Southern Cal might have enough firepower.
“I like their personnel, roster construction,” Hurley said of the Trojans.
Hurley will look to add to his personal history in the Maui Invitational. He was a co-Most Valuable Player of the tournament in 1992 when he played for Duke.
–Field Level Media
