By Paul Bartelt
IPA Sports Editor
Anaheim, Ca. After a one year COVID-19 hiatus, the Paycom Wooden Legacy returned as a two day- four team college basketball tournament tipping off on Thanksgiving evening at the Anaheim Arena. In the Tournaments first game, the No. 24 nationally ranked USC Trojans defeated the Saint Joseph’s Hawks 70 to 55. For the second game of the doubleheader, the San Diego State Aztecs beat the Georgetown Hoyas 73-56.
In the Championship game on Friday evening, USC took the early lead over San Diego State, going on a 10-0 run, and defeated the Aztecs 58-43 earning first place Tournament honors. It was the Trojans second Wooden Legacy Championship, their first comming at the 2007 Tournament. The Trojans were dominate and held the Aztecs to only 15 first half points as USC led most of the game with a overpowering defensive performance. San Diego State shot only 32 percent on the night from the field and the Trojans dominated inside getting 16 more rebounds than the Aztecs.
Trojans forward Isaiah Mobley was named the Tournaments Most Valuable Player. The 6-foot-10 junior led USC in the Championship game with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Trojans guards Boogie Ellis and Drew Peterson were also named with Mobley to the All-Tournament Team. USC remains undefeated this season with a 6-0 record and San Diego State drops to 4-2. USC has 10 players on their roster from California. Last season Trojans Head Coach Andy Enfield was named the John R. Wooden Pac-12 Coach of the Year leading the Trojans to the NCAA Tournament round of Elite Eight.
Earlier in the day, Saint Joseph’s defeated Georgetown 77-74 in the third place game.
Originally called the John R. Wooden Classic, named after the UCLA Hall Of Fame basketball coach, the Tournament began in Anaheim in 1994. Both days of the Tournament were broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPNU Television.