USC snaps 9-game losing streak, beats Oregon State 68-55
Southern California's Elijah Stewart(30) celebrates a basket by Julian Jacobs during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oregon State, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in Los Angeles. USC won 68-55.
LOS ANGELES >> Elijah Stewart scored 19 points, Katin Reinhardt added 16 and Southern California snapped its nine-game losing streak with a 68-55 win over Oregon State on Saturday
Stewart, who was elevated to the starting lineup because of an injury to point guard Jordan McLaughlin, made a career-high five 3-pointers and shot 6 of 12 from the field. The 6-foot-5 freshman guard also had five rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks.
The Trojans (10-15, 2-11 Pac-12) outscored the Beavers 42-27 in the second half to overcome a 28-26 halftime deficit. Julian Jacobs had 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Nikola Jovanovic had eight points and five rebounds for USC.
Langston Morris-Walker scored 17 points and Gary Payton II had 11 points, eight rebounds, six steals and four assists to lead Oregon State (16-9, 7-6). Malcolm Duvivier and Daniel Gomis added 10 points apiece.
The Beavers dropped to 2-9 away from home this season.
Oregon State led at the half, but Jacobs threw down a vicious two-handed dunk off a fastbreak just before the buzzer to electrify the crowd and swing the momentum USC’s way going into the locker room.
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USC opened the second half on a 15-3 run to take its first lead since the game’s opening minutes. Stewart hit a pair of 3-pointers and Reinhardt added another to lead the surge, which gave the Trojans a 41-31 lead with 14:07 to go.
USC never let Oregon State get within two possessions the rest of the game. The Trojans finished it out in style, with Stewart throwing up a layup on the fastbreak off the backboard into the waiting hands of Jacobs, who threw down another emphatic slam to bring the crowd to its feet.
TIP-INS
Oregon State: The Beavers dropped to 4-20 against USC in Los Angeles since 1990. …Gary Payton II has a steal in all 25 games this season. …Jarmal Reid was held to three points after reaching double figures in five of his last six games.
USC: The Trojans won despite committing 23 turnovers. … Jordan McLaughlin re-injured his surgically-repaired left shoulder Feb. 11 against Oregon. He is day-to-day. … Elijah Stewart hadn’t started since Jan. 2. … USC has won its last five games played on Valentine’s Day.
UP NEXT
Oregon State hosts No. 11 Utah on Thursday.
USC visits No. 7 Arizona on Thursday.
