National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Southern California 89, Montana St. 63
When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 15, 2024
Where: Galen Center, Los Angeles, California
Officials: # Verne Harris, # Jason Phillips, # Randy Richardson
Attendance: 2381

Desmond Claude scored a game-high 19 points as Southern California rolled to an 89-63 win against Montana State on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

Saint Thomas stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals for the Trojans (7-4), who have won two straight games. Chibuzo Agbo added 12 points and Rashaun Agee came off the bench to score 10 points for USC.

Brandon Walker led the Bobcats (5-6) with 14 points. Jeremiah Davis chipped in 11.

A seven-day break between games didn't slow down the USC offense, as the Trojans shot 53.1 percent from the field and 44.4 percent (4 of 9) from 3-point land in the first half.

It took the Trojans only 10:02 to virtually determine the outcome of the contest, as they opened the game on a 27-5 run. Agee highlighted the back-breaking burst with eight straight Southern California points, four of which came at the free-throw line.

Walker tried to get Montana State on track by converting a three-point play with 9:30 remaining in the first half to make it 27-8, but that was the closest the Bobcats would get in the period -- and for the rest of the game.

USC saw its lead cut down to 19 once more at 31-12 with 6:34 to play before halftime. However, the hosts proceeded to score 16 of the final 25 points of the first half to carry a 47-21 advantage into intermission.

Southern California led by at least 21 for the entirety of the second half.

The Bobcats entered Sunday ranked 35th in the nation in 3-pointers per game (10.2) but couldn't get anything going against the Trojans' stiff perimeter defense. Montana State went just 5-for-22 from beyond the arc for the game (22.7 percent).

USC knocked down 6 of 18 3-pointers (33.3 percent) and finished at 50.8 percent overall (32 of 63).

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Montana St.   Southern California
Brandon Walker 14 Scoring Desmond Claude 19
Bryce Zephir 4 Assists Clark Slajchert 5
Patrick McMahon 5 Rebounds Saint Thomas 7
Jeremiah Davis 8 Free Throws Made Desmond Claude 7
Max Agbonkpolo 1 Steals Matt Knowling 2
BJ Kolly 1 Blocks Saint Thomas 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Montana St. 63 32.8 5-22 18-25 13 23 2 6 12
Southern California 89 50.8 6-18 19-24 18 41 6 9 11