Boogie Ellis scored 16 points, Drew Peterson added 14, and USC picked up its fourth consecutive victory with a 62-49 victory over Utah on Saturday night.
USC ties No. 7 Arizona for second in the Pac-12 conference with the win. Arizona State stunned the Wildcats 89-88 earlier Saturday on Desmond Cambridge’s 16-yard three-pointer at the buzzer.
Ellis made six of 12 shots, including four of eight from three-point range, for the Trojans (21-8, 13-5). Peterson hit two 3-pointers and added eight assists and seven rebounds. Kobe Johnson finished with 12 points and three steals. Reese Dixon-Waters contributed nine points and six rebounds off the bench.
Marco Anthony scored 11 points to lead the Utes (17-13, 10-9), who have lost four in a row. Branden Carlson totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Ellis sank three 3-pointers to score 11 points, Peterson added 10 and USC built a 34–28 lead at halftime. The Trojans only shot 39% overall, but they made eight out of 15 from outside the arc. Utah shot 34% overall, missing nine of 11 attempts from range. The Utes had six turnovers to USC’s five, but the Trojans had an 11-0 point lead on those turnovers.
Utah guard Marco Anthony, center, controls the ball between USC guards Tre White, left, Reese Dixon-Waters during Saturday’s first half.
(Ben B. Braun/Associated Press)
Ellis buried a three-pointer to open the second half and a dunk from Vincent Iwuchukwu gave the Trojans a 43-36 lead with 13:51 left to play. Anthony followed with a layup and Mike Saunders Jr. hit a three-pointer to bring the Utes within two, but Johnson answered with a three-pointer and USC maintained a two-possession lead the rest of the way.
The Trojans shot 42% overall, but made 11 of 23 from outside the arc (64%). Utah shot 32% and made five of 22 attempts from distance.
Next for USC: The Trojans head home to finish the regular season, hosting the No. 7 Arizona on Thursday and Arizona State on Saturday.