LOS ANGELES — For the past two weeks, as the pieces finally started to fit for USC, Boogie Ellis had been the glue, a once-streaky point guard finally coming into his own as the engine of a suddenly soaring offense.
But as those pieces began to come apart Thursday for USC, its senior point guard was left to drive a sputtering offense alone, firing one 3-pointer after another, emptying his tank until only fumes remained. It wouldn’t be enough, as USC eventually broke down in spite of its star, losing to Arizona, 87-81.
An otherwise lifeless offense wouldn’t keep Ellis from trying to push the Trojans along entirely on his own. He’d set another career-high in the process, scoring 35 points and knocking down six 3’s in an heroic effort.
