USC 89, Utah State 84: Nikola Jovanovic matched his career high with 23 points as the Trojans held off the visiting Aggies for their fourth consecutive victory.

Jordan McLaughlin contributed 21 points and five assists for USC (6-3), which made 12-of-26 from behind the 3-point arc. Strahinja Gavrilovic recorded 13 points and Katin Reinhardt had 11 while Darion Clark grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds as the Trojans topped their season high in scoring.

Freshman David Collette recorded season highs with 32 points and 14 rebounds to lead Utah State (3-4), which has dropped its fourth in a row. Jalen Moore registered 18 points and Julion Pearre had 15 after going scoreless in the previous five contests while Darius Perkins added 11 for the Aggies.

USC led by as many as 11 early in the first half and were in control before Collette contributed 10 as Utah State recorded 13 of the last 16 points for a 41-40 lead at intermission. Gavrilovic made a jumper, a 3-pointer and a layup to ignite a nine-point burst as the Trojans pushed their way in front 69-60 with 8:09 left.

The Aggies responded by putting together a 14-5 run, highlighted by two 3-pointers from Perkins, to even the score at 74-74 with just under five minutes to go. About 2 1/2 minutes later, Julian Jacobs slammed home a pass from McLaughlin and set up Jovanovic’s layup for an 85-80 lead and Utah State did not make another field goal until there was 1.4 seconds left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: USC improved to 4-1 at home and has won four straight for the first time since November 2013. … Collette converted all eight of his shots from the field in the first half to score 19. … McLaughlin, a freshman G, made a season-high five 3-pointers on 13 attempts.