Desmond Claude scored eight of Southern California’s final 12 points to power the Trojans past a tough challenge from UT Arlington, 98-95 on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
There were 10 ties and 16 lead changes, with USC going in front for good on Claude’s layup with 62 seconds remaining. Teammate Josh Cohen helped free Claude up with a ball screen at the top of the key, then Cohen sealed off the paint to give Claude space to finish at the rim.
USC (3-0) regained possession after Raysean Seamster traveled, and Claude connected on a one-footed, running jump shot near the free throw for the last two of his team-high 26 points. The shot gave the Trojans a four-point lead with 19 seconds left, and they needed every bit of it.
UT Arlington (1-2) answered with a quick Jaxon Ellingsworth 3-pointer, part of his 19-point performance, to pull within one point. The Mavericks could not bridge the gap any more, however, as Terrance Williams II and Saint Thomas each made their free throws when UT Arlington sent them to the foul line to try extending the game.
With his 18 points, Williams joined Claude, Cohen and Wesley Yates III scoring in double figures for the Trojans. Cohen finished with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor. Yates came off the bench to score 14 points on 6-of-9 field-goal shooting.
Claude handed out a game-high eight assists.
UT Arlington’s Jaden Wells led all scorers with 27 points. He shot a torrid 7-for-10 from 3-point range. Ellingsworth made 4 of 5 from deep, and the Mavericks were 16 of 24 from beyond the arc as a team.
The Trojans finished 6 of 18 from 3-point distance but leveraged a 50-24 advantage for points in the paint to offset the visitor’s hot long-range touch.
When USC pushed its lead to 11 points early in the second half, an Ellingsworth 3-pointer kicked off a 12-3 Mavericks run leading into the first media timeout. The deficit was never more than six points from that point on.
UT Arlington never led by more than two points.
–Field Level Media
