Jordan McLaughlin made a go-ahead layup in the final minute to help No. 24 USC escape with its perfect record intact after an 82-77 victory over visiting Troy on Saturday night at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

USC trailed 77-74 with just over a minute to play, but Chimezie Metu tied the game with a three-point play and McLaughlin put his team on top with 42 seconds to go. McLaughlin added a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining.

"That was a very challenging game for us," USC coach Andy Enfield said. "Troy played great. They made a lot of tough shots. We played good defense down the stretch. We were fortunate to win."

McLaughlin scored 21 points for USC (10-0), which is off to its best start since going 16-0 to begin the 1970-71 season. Metu had 18 points and eight rebounds. Elijah Stewart scored 11 points and Nick Rakocevic added 10.

Wesley Person scored 19 points for Troy (6-5). Jordon Varnado had 17 points and eight rebounds. Kevin Baker scored 15 points and Jeremy Hollimon had 13.

Troy mounted an early 12-2 run to stagger USC. Troy went up 10-4 on a four-point play by Person, took a 15-6 lead on a 3-pointer by Person and led 19-10 following a basket by Jaro Moravek. Troy still led by nine with just over nine minutes remaining in the opening half, but USC mounted a 16-5 run to go up 31-29 on a layup by Rakocevic.

Troy quickly reclaimed the lead on a 3-pointer by Baker and carried a 40-38 advantage into the break after Hollimon made a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Troy made eight 3-pointers in the opening half, four of them by Person.

Troy staged an 8-0 run to go up 50-40 early in the second half. USC still trailed by nine with under 12 minutes remaining. USC got within four on two free throws by McLaughlin and cut the deficit to one on a dunk by Metu.

That basket came during a 6-0 run that put USC ahead 67-66. Troy briefly reclaimed the lead on a couple of occasions and led by three following a 3-pointer by Hollimon with 1:18 to go, but Metu and McLaughlin made crucial baskets and free throws over the final 1:03 to help USC stave off disaster.

"I live for moments like that, down by two," McLaughlin said.

USC shot 46.8 percent from the field but made only 5 of 15 from 3-point range. Troy shot 39.4 percent but made 11 3-point goals.

"We are really proud of how our team played tonight," Troy coach Phil Cunningham said. "We fought, had a big lead, gave it up, but hung around."

NOTES: Saturday's game was the first meeting between USC and Troy, both of which are known as the Trojans. ... G Elijah Stewart has made at least on 3-pointer in 17 consecutive games dating back to last season. He had a career-high seven 3-pointers against Pepperdine on Dec. 11, tying for fourth on USC's all-time single-game list. ... Troy has four starters back from a team that went 9-22 last season.