Tue. Nov 5th, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

Kiki Iriafen made a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining to lift No. 3 USC over No. 20 Mississippi 68-66 on Monday in a season-opening doubleheader in France.

Iriafen, an Associated Press preseason All-America selection, finished with 22 points while teammate JuJu Watkins led the way for USC with 27 points.

K.K. Deans scored 19 points for Mississippi. Madison Scott added 14.

With a little under two minutes left, Deans made a jump shot from near halfcourt to put Mississippi ahead 66-64.

The 8,000-capacity Adidas Arena, home to the men’s Paris Basketball team, was about half full.

Takeaways

USC: The Trojans gave the ball away too often and were sloppy in defense at times, leaving opposing shooters wide open from three-point range.

Mississippi: The Rebels just kept coming back, rallying to lead 16-15 at the end of the first quarter and then fighting back from an 11-point halftime deficit. They outscored USC 40-31 in the second half.

Key moment: Having done so much to drag her team back into the game from the floor — including a game-high four three-pointers — Deans fouled out with 10 seconds left. She walked off with her head bowed as USC took advantage.

Key stat: Mississippi was seven of 23 from three-point range, while USC was only one of 11.

Up next: USC takes on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at the Galen Center on Saturday. Mississippi hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday.

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