LAS VEGAS – For a period of time Wednesday night, USC’s postseason fate was very much in question.
It trailed Washington, which had finished second to last in the Pac-12 Conference standings, for the entire first half of its Pac-12 Tournament first-round game.
When it fell behind by 10 points with three minutes left before the break, Coach Andy Enfield stormed to center court to protest a call by one of the officials. Enfield, as well as his team, looked tense, the pressure of securing an NCAA Tournament berth seemingly building.
USC switched to a zone defense, and the game swung.