USC basketball: Rider leads Trojans at halftime, 36-27

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Rider nearly shot the lights out of the Galen Center in its first half against USC and the Broncs lead 36-27 at intermission.

The Broncs shot 60% overall (15 for 25) in the first half and made six of 11 three-point tries.

Compare that to USC’s 41% shooting (12 for 29) and its eight turnovers, and well, that explains the Trojans’ deficit.

The Trojans trailed 17-8 early but fought back to tie the game at 21 with 5:39 left on a corner three-point jumper by USC senior guard Donte Smith.

But after that shot, the Broncs went on a 15-6 run to end the half.

Smith, guard Maurice Jones, and forward Alex Stepheson each have a team-high seven points for USC. And Stepheson, mind you, is playing with a broken left hand, which is in a hard cast that he’ll wear for two to three weeks.

Rider guard Justin Robinson leads the Broncs with 13 points on five of six shooting, and he had made all three of his shots from beyond the arc.

Interesting first half stat: points in the paint

USC leads that, 20 to six.

But USC hasn’t fared well outside the paint, misfiring on all but one of its eight three point shots.

-- Baxter Holmes