Terrance Williams II and Chibuzo Ago each scored 20 points and Southern California used a 10-0 run early in the second half to keep visiting San Jose State at bay in an 82-68 win on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Four players scored in double figures for USC (4-1), which ended its last game with a lengthy scoring drought and sputtered out of the gate on Wednesday. The Trojans had only four points in the game’s first 4:18 but came alive midway through the first half, going on a 7-0 run after trailing 18-16.
USC never relinquished the lead, though San Jose State (1-5) remained close throughout the first half. The Spartans’ Will McClendon, who finished with 18 points, scored coming out of halftime, to trim the deficit to five points.
The Trojans’ followed with their 10-0 and led by double digits the rest of the way.
The Trojans dished at least 20 assists in each of their first three games before finishing with just 10 in Sunday’s 71-66 loss to Cal. Wednesday marked a return to form, as Saint Thomas accounted for nine of the Trojans’ to 23 assists on their 32 USC field goals.
The Trojans shot 57.1 percent from the floor, including 10-of-22 from 3-point range. San Jose State was at 41.9 percent and 11-of-23 from beyond the arc. Josh Uduje made all five of his 3-point attempts en route to 25 points for the Spartans.
But the Spartans made just 15 of 39 shots from inside the 3-point arc to USC’s 22 of 34. The Trojans enjoyed a 38-26 edge in points in the paint thanks in part to Matt Knowling.
Knowling shot 5-of-6 from the floor and collected 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Wesley Yates III, who scored 14 points, shot 6-of-9 from the field.
USC concludes it season-opening six-game homestand on Sunday vs. Grambling State. San Jose State will face UTEP on Monday in the Ball Dawgs Classic in Henderson, Nev.
–Field Level Media
