With 4:07 left in the first half of USC’s battle with UC Irvine, the crowd at Galen Center fell silent. Star freshman point guard Isaiah Collier had just come up limping after a collision with Irvine freshman guard Derin Saran, furthering the Trojans’ nightmare.

All night, Collier was relied on to carry a team that was without its two captains, fifth-year guard Boogie Ellis and junior guard Kobe Johnson. Collier, who had been held out of practice until the day before the game due to a knee injury, was the only point guard available for Head Coach Andy Enfield. In spite of looking hobbled and frustrated for the majority of the game, Collier managed to play 33 minutes, refusing to let his team down. 

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“I’m always going to finish the game,” Collier said. “My team needed me, so I’m going to finish the game.”

Collier contributed 23 points but could not salvage an offense that looked anemic when he was on the court and virtually unwatchable when he was not. USC (2-1) shot 17-59 (28.8%) from the field, 4-21 (19.0%) from the 3-point range and had 16 turnovers as a team. Seven of the turnovers came from Collier, who put his body on the line over and over again to try to force the issue for the Trojans, but could not be Superman on a night when he was clearly not at 100%.

“Three of our best playmakers were not in the game, meaning [Johnson], Ellis and [freshman guard] Bronny [James],” Enfield said. “So that was a little harder as far as our playbook goes because we just didn’t have the playmaking that we normally have.”

Ellis (right ankle sprain) and Johnson (left knee discomfort) are considered day-to-day going forward, while James will be evaluated at the end of the month to see if he can return this season after suffering a cardiac arrest at a team workout in July.

Without his three star guards, Enfield needed players such as sophomore guard Oziyah Sellers and graduate forward DJ Rodman to step up, but they were unable to make an impact. Sellers and Rodman shot an abysmal combined 1-19 from the field and 0-9 from the 3-point line. The Anteaters (2-1) were extremely physical and had impressive defensive activity, but even when the Trojans were able to create open looks, they repeatedly failed to capitalize.

“For [Sellers], he just has to go out and make shots,” Enfield said. “Of the six threes he took, I’d say at least five were wide open. He’s a very good basketball player, but tonight he just didn’t have it.”

USC was almost bailed out by an inspired performance from junior forward Harrison Hornery, who played a career-high 33 minutes and had 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks — all career-high marks. 

“I thought [Hornery] played a really tough game tonight. He made shots, he boxed out, he blocked three shots,” Enfield said. “He’s really a [power forward] but he had to play guard tonight for most of the game and he put in a great effort. I’m really proud of him.”

With 5:41 remaining in the second half, Hornery electrified the Galen crowd with a four-point play to cut Irvine’s advantage in half, but the Trojans’ hope was short-lived. After pulling within one with 2:49 remaining, USC missed its final five shots, eventually falling 70-60.

On USC’s penultimate offensive possession, down 68-60, Collier bulldozed down the court and was quickly double-teamed. Despite the extra defensive attention, he launched a contested 3-pointer that fell just short, a perfect microcosm of a night that was doomed for the Trojans from the start.

After the play, Collier limped to the bench as the stadium began to rapidly clear out, the aura of hope that surrounded Trojan fans after the team’s impressive start to the season nowhere to be found.

USC will play again Sunday at 5 p.m. against Brown at Galen Center.