In a commanding performance, Southern California (USC) raced to a 26-point lead in the first half and secured a decisive 79-59 nonconference triumph over Alabama State in Montgomery on Tuesday night.
Arrinten Page, coming off the bench, led the Trojans (6-5) with 12 points, supported by freshman point guard Isaiah Collier and Kobe Johnson, each contributing 11 points. Remarkably, eleven players from USC managed to get on the scoresheet, showcasing a well-distributed offensive effort. Notably, Boogie Ellis, USC’s leading scorer with an average of 21.4 points per game, was limited to just two points before leaving the game due to injury.
Ellis exited the game with over six minutes left in the first half, nursing a hip injury sustained after a rejected layup. Despite his absence, USC maintained control throughout the game, rendering his absence inconsequential against the Hornets.
Alabama State (4-6) struggled to find their shooting rhythm, hitting only 23 of 70 attempts from the field and 8 of 27 from beyond the arc. TJ Madlock led the Hornets with 17 points, while Isaiah Range contributed 13. The Hornets faced challenges on the boards, being outrebounded 52-39, and were outscored 44-19 off the bench.
With a substantial lead, USC provided valuable playing time to their reserves, totaling 95 minutes of action. Notably, Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, made an impact in his third collegiate game, contributing six points.
The outcome of Tuesday’s game was effectively determined in the opening 14 minutes, as the Trojans capitalized on a struggling Alabama State offense. USC’s lead reached double digits early in the first half, and they maintained a comfortable margin throughout the remainder of the game. The Trojans led 39-18 at halftime and never allowed Alabama State to narrow the gap to fewer than 13 points for the rest of the contest.
