USC 84, Xavier 78: Pe'Shon Howard matched a career high for the second time in three games with 23 points as the Trojans held on to defeat the Musketeers in the seventh-place game at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.

Byron Wesley had 15 points and freshman Julian Jacobs contributed 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for USC (5-3), which nearly blew a 23-point lead in the final four minutes of the contest. Nikola Jovanovic added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Trojans.

Semaj Christon rebounded from a season-low four-point effort in Saturday’s loss to Tennessee with 21 on Saturday, but committed a season-high seven turnovers. Myles Davis led a late rally with 16 points while Matt Stainbrook tallied 14 for the Musketeers (5-3).

After Isaiah Philmore drained a pair of jumpers to give Xavier its biggest lead at 23-18 midway through the opening 20 minutes, Jovanovic reeled off eight straight points during a 13-0 surge. Each team scored on their next four possessions, but the Musketeers went scoreless over the final 4:20 while the Trojans closed the half with seven unanswered points.

Xavier’s cold spell carried well into the second half as Stainbrook accounted for his team’s only field goal over the first 9:27, allowing USC to stretch its margin to 68-44. The Musketeers took advantage of some sloppy play by the Trojans and went on a 29-11 run over a 3:23 span to make it a game late, but a free throw from Wesley and steal by Howard in the final seconds put a stop to the rally.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Xavier matched a season high with 19 turnovers – the second time in three games at this event it recorded that many. … After shooting 20 percent or worse beyond the arc for the third time in their first seven games in Friday’s loss to Wake Forest, the Trojans converted 42.1 percent of their tries on Saturday. …The Musketeers have dropped three straight for only the third time in five seasons under coach Chris Mack.