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Griffin, Sooners outlast Trojans in Norman

Fri 5th, December 2008

Norman, OK (Sports Network) - Blake Griffin scored 25 points, and Austin Johnson netted 15 of his 17 in the first half, as sixth-ranked Oklahoma outlasted Southern California, 73-72, in a Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series tilt.

Thursday night's game had an March feel, complete with up-and-down action, flagrant fouls and a tight finish that included Oklahoma reserve and 97 percent free-throw shooter Cade Davis missing a pair of free throws in the final seconds.

Davis, who had made 30-of-31 free throws during his collegiate career, was put into the game for his precision from the charity stripe. Trailing by one point with 3.4 seconds left after Daniel Hackett accidentally made his second free throw attempt, the Trojans fouled Davis, who rimmed out both attempts.

However, with little time to work with, all USC (5-3) could muster was a three-quarter court heave that missed well short and wide left.

Taylor Griffin, Blake's older brother, scored 10 points to go along with a team-best nine rebounds for the Sooners (7-0) and made two clutch free throws for a 73-70 edge with 39.6 seconds remaining.

Dwight Lewis led the Trojans with 25 points and Taj Gibson added 12. Hackett added to his eight-point night with 13 assists and seven rebounds.

The game took on a different tone almost midway through the second half. Blake Griffin was elbowed below the waist by USC's Leonard Washington with 13:53 to play and had to leave the game momentarily. Washington was whistled for a flagrant foul and was promptly ejected after scoring nine points in 14 minutes of action.

Keith Wilkinson's trey moments later cut what was once a USC 11-point second- half deficit to just 54-51. Taylor Griffin hit a pair of jumpers over the next two minutes, but Lewis' two free throws again made it a three-point contest, 58-55.

Hackett's dunk with 8:18 to go cut the deficit to 60-59 -- one of three times the Trojans trimmed Oklahoma's lead to one. They never got over the hump.

Blake Griffin corralled an offensive rebound and scored from in close on the next possession, and Wilkinson's three-pointer again cut the lead to one point, 65-64.

Hackett hit a three with 2:38 left to make it 69-68 in favor of the Sooners, but Blake Griffin and Taylor Griffin each hit a pair of free throws down the stretch to keep the Trojans at bay.

The Sooners held a 42-35 edge at the half.

Game Notes

The Sooners committed a season-low eight turnovers...DeMar Rozan added 10 points for the Trojans, who shot 50 percent from the floor and made 8-of-11 treys, including a 3-of-4 effort from Lewis...USC owned a 34-25 rebounding edge despite Blake Griffin's presence. The Oklahoma forward had just six rebounds and one on the offensive end...Willie Warren collected four steals for the Sooners.