Drew Peterson plays through the pain as USC narrowly beats Arizona State

His back still ached, the stiffness that had built up during the last half of a long season next to the home of a long college career.

Drew Peterson was not his usual smooth self. That much became clear on Saturday night. The senior’s stiff back slowed him Thursday and nearly sidelined him for USC’s final season. A report earlier in the day went so far as to rule him out because of the injury. But when the lights in the arena went out and the lineup was announced, the fifth year quietly ran from his seat on the couch as if his presence was never doubted.

After all, this would be Peterson’s last game at the Galen Center – an arena that has bent to his will on more than a few occasions.

However, Saturday wouldn’t be one of those nights, even if USC managed to get past Arizona State 68-65.

Either way, Peterson will still get it out of the way – a fitting end to a USC career where he fits where he’s needed without complaint. He tried everything from chiropractic massage to IVs to work his way through Saturday morning pain. But until just before the tip, everyone at USC expected him to sit down.

“For him to deal with the pain and go out, play 31 minutes and go out and help us win,” said USC coach Andy Enfield, “he showed a lot of heart and tenacity.”

“He’s a fighter,” teammate Boogie Ellis added.

Late Saturday night, Peterson was mostly in pain. He still fought through rebounds, still drove to the basket, still hit passes to the wing, the usual hallmarks of his versatile playing style. But narrow-mindedness stole the explosive spark that held them together, forcing Peterson to fight his way through every possession.

“When I woke up this morning, I didn’t think I was going to play,” Peterson admitted. “But in the beginning of the last home game I really did everything I could to get on the floor.”

He would finish his last game with nine points, five rebounds and three assists, a full but modest line that wouldn’t quite tell the story of his swan song at USC.

His fellow elder would fill the gap, as he has done so many times. Ellis may have spent a year less here than Peterson, but in his two seasons as the Trojans, he has emerged as the undisputed other half of the team’s heartbeat.

That was never truer than last month, when Ellis was in the middle of the best part of his college career and USC desperately needed a difference maker. The point guard continued his hot streak on Saturday, scoring 28 points to lead USC again.

Both seniors will leave a legacy at USC that should play on an endless loop in key roles at the school for years to come. Together they would pack some of the biggest punches at the greatest moment. But their impact would extend far beyond that brief flash, and both added indelible marks to a basketball program.

“We’re always led by Boogie and Drew,” Enfield said.

When Arizona State fired in the last second on Saturday, it was Peterson whose hand grabbed the shooter’s face.

That ending would be too succinct to feel comfortable, similar to the sloppy tone the game started on for USC. The Trojans remained goalless for five minutes and turned the ball around five times. They added three more in the next 13 minutes, throwing wrong passes, dribbling with their feet, making inefficient decisions.

But as so often before this season, USC has calmed down. That weakened the defense and forced Arizona State to miss its final twelve shots before halftime. While the Sun Devils struggled, the Trojans took a 15-2 lead at halftime.

They have to sweat from there, even though Arizona State only shot 29% for the game. In a series of late missteps by USC, the Sun Devils close the gap to a single point in the last minute. Arizona State was unable to force overtime when DJ Horne missed a three-point shot at the buzzer.

The narrow win should likely put the Trojans on the safe side of the NCAA tournament bubble and take the pressure off next week’s trip to Las Vegas. USC was already locked in the No. 3 seed for the conference tournament. It will pit the 6th-seeded Arizona State winner against the 11th-seeded Oregon State. on Thursday at 8:30 PM PST.

How far it goes from there may very well depend on how far his senior pair can carry them. Sick back and all.