Ethan Anderson’s career-best 19-point performance against UCLA was happy surprise for USC, given the backup point guard’s tentative play following his return from a back injury and the 5.4 points per game average he carried into Saturday’s game at Galen Center.
In breaking the personal mark he set last season against UCLA the sophomore from Carson boosted his confidence and helped lift the Trojans to the top of the Pacific-12. Those would seem to be big enough accomplishments for one night, but ESPN commentator Bill Walton — never known for understatement — insisted on giving Anderson another honor.