Powered by Rodney Rice’s triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Southern California came out hot, then held off an Illinois State rally to win 87-67 in the first game of the Hall of Fame Series Los Angeles doubleheader on Friday in Inglewood, Calif.
USC (3-0) overwhelmed Illinois State (1-2) with big runs in each half. The Trojans went on a 15-0 burst in the first half, building a lead of as many as 21 points before the Redbirds battled back.
Consecutive 3-pointers by Johnny Kinziger and Mason Klabo just before halftime trimmed a 20-point USC lead to 40-26 going into intermission. Illinois State continued its push, getting within six points at the conclusion of a 22-8 run that extended nearly six minutes into the second half.
USC regrouped, going on a 12-2 run in response that gave the Trojans a double-digit cushion for the rest of the game.
A tenacious USC defense held Illinois State to just 34.3% shooting from the floor on the night while the Trojans poured in 50.9%.
The Trojans’ 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes contributed to the defensive effort with three blocked shots, and he successfully altered other Redbirds attempts. Jacob Cofie rejected another three Illinois State shots and also swiped three steals.
Chad Baker-Mazara poured in 18 points, while Gabe Dynes had 14, Ezra Ausar scored 13, Amarion Dickerson added nine and Cofie had eight for USC.
Ausar’s final two points were big, as he slammed home a dunk set up on a pass from Rice. Rice dished to open teammates repeatedly in the final minutes seeking his 10th assist and the triple-double, but it did not come until USC’s final possession.
With Ausar’s slam to cap a 4-of-4 field-goal shooting night, Rice completed just the second triple-double in USC history. Daniel Hackett recorded the first in 2007.
Ty’Reek Coleman led Illinois State with 16 points. Kinziger finished with 15.
Chase Walker, Illinois State’s preseason Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, managed only six points with nine rebounds while dealing with early foul trouble.
–Field Level Media
