Chibuzo Agbo scored 21 points, Josh Cohen added 18 points and Southern California held off a struggling visiting Grambling State en route to an 80-69 victory over the Trojans on Sunday in Los Angeles.
After 20 turnovers, USC (5-1) opened up a 12-point lead midway through the second half on the strength of a 14-0 run. Agbo knocked down 3-pointers, part of a 4-of-9 shooting night from beyond his arc, during the surge.
Grambling (1-4) responded with a 13-3 run that put the Trojans back in front by one. A PJ Eason dunk with 4:36 left in regulation brought the Tigers within 68-66.
Desmond Claude responded with a rebound at the other end, and Agbo forced a conversion on Grambling’s next possession to put his own points on the line. Four quick Trojans points gave USC a cushion to pull away.
Claude finished with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. His last-minute swipe at Mikale Stevenson and the turnover put the game away for USC, which ended its season-opening, six-game, two-game streak after losing to Cal last Sunday.
Grambling led for more than 13 minutes of the game and led 38-37 at halftime, but the Tigers’ advantage never grew beyond five points. Grambling matched USC in both field goals made, 25 each, and 3-pointers, seven each.
Six of the seven Tigers scored on at least one 3-pointer, led by Kintavious Dozier’s 2-of-3 effort. Dozier scored a team-high 17 points to lead three Tigers in double figures. Stevenson added 14 points and dished out 10 assists, while Antwan Burnett had 13 points.
USC’s biggest advantage came at the free throw line. The Trojans got to the line in 33 attempts, making 23, while Grambling went 12-of-14 at the line.
–Field Level Media
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