Julian Welch scored a game-high 16 points and Rodney Williams added 12 points and nine rebounds as Minnesota took control midway through the first half to roll to a 55-40 win over USC on Saturday in Minneapolis, Minn.

The win was the second straight for the Golden Gophers (8-1) since losing preseason All-America candidate Trevor Mbakwe to a torn ACL on Sunday.

Trailing 11-10 with just under 11 minutes remaining, Minnesota closed the first half with a 18-5 run to take a 28-16 lead, and limiting USC (4-5) to just two field goals. In the second half, the Gophers continued to control play on both ends, outrebounding the Trojans for the game 34-24 and holding USC to just 32.7 percent shooting from the field.

Welch, making his second consecutive start for the injured Mbakwe, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, led Minnesota in scoring for the second straight game. He also dished out a game-high six assists.

Williams, who is now playing the power forward spot in place of Mbakwe, connected on five of six shots from the field, while garnering four steals to go with three assists and three blocked shots.

Minnesota, only a 68 percent free throw shooting team, connected on all nine attempts, all in the first half. USC, which had a two-game winning streak snapped, was led by Maurice Jones's 14 points.