TUCSON, Arizona – With Kevin Durant watching from the front row, Bronny James got hot early and hit his first three shots in USC's 82-67 loss to No. 12 Arizona on Wednesday.
James, who finished with 11 points (5 of 11 shooting), six assists, five rebounds, a block and five turnovers in the second start of his career, hit his first shot, a floater in the street, just a few feet away. from where the Phoenix Suns superstar was sitting in the McKale Center.
Durant told ESPN that he came to the game to support James, USC, Arizona and college basketball. He said he was impressed by the way he attacked James.
“He was aggressive,” Durant said. “He played well.”
But James struggled after a strong first half, missing six of his next eight shots after his 3-for-3 start.
The Trojans, who were without starters Boogie Ellis and Isaiah Collier due to injury, cut Arizona's 19-9 lead early in the game to a four-point deficit (38-34) on Kobe Johnson's 3-pointer. end of the first half. But Caleb Love (20 points) and Arizona pulled away again and led by double digits for most of the second half.
USC coach Andy Enfield said he has never experienced an injury problem that has affected his team to this point.
Joshua Morgan missed two recent games due to an upper respiratory virus. He played Wednesday, but only after losing 15 pounds in a short span. Ellis continues to deal with a hamstring injury. And Collier is still sidelined after suffering a broken hand.
Through it all, Enfield said he is proud of his team's competitive nature.
“Our guys have stuck together,” he said after the loss. “I'm very proud of them. They have supported their teammates when they were away. [due to injury]and they're trying to compete.”
He said James, who played in just his 10th game after suffering cardiac arrest during summer training, will continue to grow, but added that his development to date has been impressive, considering what he has endured recently.
“The young man went through a medical situation this summer that was very difficult and challenging,” Enfield said. “Bronny James has no ego, he's a fantastic teammate. He's very coachable because he just wants to get better. I think you see that. And he's getting better.”
