Men’s basketball splits weekend games


Competing on the road for the first time this season at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, Mass., the Trojans earned a convincing win against New Mexico State on Sunday after a gut-wrenching loss to Bradley the day before.

Just out of reach · Junior forward Nikola Vucevic missed two free throws late in the game Saturday as the Trojans lost by one point to Bradley. - Brandon Hui | Daily Trojan

Playing motivated after losing the first two games of the tournament, the Trojans (3-2) jumped out to a 17-5 lead against New Mexico State and held on to defeat the Aggies, 80-61. USC held New Mexico State (2-3) to a 35.7 shooting percentage and forced 18 turnovers.

Freshman guard Bryce Jones scored 21 points, the highest total in his first five collegiate games. Junior forward Nikola Vucevic added 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Senior guard Marcus Simmons had 12 points and six rebounds.

The blowout victory allowed USC coach Kevin O’Neill to play walk-ons redshirt junior guard James Dunleavy, sophomore guard Daniel Munoz, junior guard Eric Strangis and redshirt freshman guard Tyler Sugiyama for the first time this season.

On Saturday, USC came within seconds of the victory. The Trojans were up 31-23 at halftime and led the entire second half until Bradley (4-0) commandeered the lead with 58 seconds left in the game. In the final seconds, the Trojans led 63-61, but Simmons fouled the Braves’ Sam Maniscalco on a 3-point attempt with .3 seconds left in the game, allowing Maniscalco to make three free throws to give Bradley the victory, 64-63.

Two Trojans starters — Simmons and senior forward Alex Stepheson — combined to score only four points in the game, while freshman guard Maurice Jones had the worst game of his young collegiate career, missing all 10 of his shots and turning the ball over five times.

USC’s two-man bench rotation kept the Trojans in the game. Senior guard Donte Smith made four 3-point baskets, and freshman forward Garrett Jackson scored 12 points after recording a combined two points in his first three collegiate games.

Vucevic led the Trojans with a career-high 22 points and 15 rebounds against the Braves but missed two key free throws with 11 seconds left in the game and the Trojans leading 63-61. Bryce Jones contributed 13 points, five assists and five steals.

The Trojans host Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m at the Galen Center.