LOS ANGELES >> In his first game back from a knee injury last week at Washington, USC men’s basketball forward Bennie Boatwright came off the bench.
Boatwright has since found a place in the starting five.
For a second straight game against Oregon State on Thursday night, the 6-foot-10 sophomore started alongside fellow sophomore forward Chimezie Metu in the Trojans’ frontcourt.
It is as close to being fully health as he has been since he first suffered a knee sprain at San Diego on Nov. 30.
Boatwright exited after five minutes. He scored six points in the first half.
Earlier this week, USC coach Andy Enfield said he felt Boatwright’s mobility was improving, although it was not quite on par with earlier in the season.
“You could tell he didn’t have his explosiveness or quickness prior to the injury,” Enfield said, pointing to the first two games of his return. “Now he’s getting some of that back. He’s not quite there yet, but he’s closer.”
For portions of practice, Boatwright is still working with trainers, as part of his rehabilitation.
Hard fall
In the Trojans’ win at Washington State last week, sophomore guard Shaqquan Aaron left in the second half after landing on his tailbone when he was attempting to corral a rebound.
“He probably fell four feet on his tailbone,” Enfield said.
Aaron was limited in practice in the following days as a result, but was in uniform against Oregon State. He came off the bench midway through the first half and had 10 points in the opening 20 minutes, making his two 3-point attempts.
In the two-game road trip at Washington and Washington State, Aaron struggled, scoring a combined two points on 1-of-6 shooting in 29 minutes.
The previous week, Aaron was the Pac-12 Player of the Week when he scored a career-high 23 points against UCLA.
More injuries
Senior forward Charles Buggs, who had missed four consecutive games with knee soreness, returned to practice this week.
Buggs was expected to play against the Beavers and took part in warm-ups.
He joined the team as a graduate transfer from Minnesota. He has averaged 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.1 minutes per game, but has been sidelined for seven games with lingering knee injuries.
Name game
Pac-12 Networks broadcasters had a challenge in the first half.
Oregon State center Gligorije Rakocevic was defending USC center Nick Rakocevic. Oregon State guard JaQuori McLaughlin was also matched up on USC’s Jordan McLaughlin.
Also
Trojans football coach Clay Helton was in attendance, sitting courtside alongside USC athletic director Lynn Swann and Trojans president Max Nikias.
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