USC basketball: Trojans rout Texas Christian, 83-59
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The Galen Center scoreboard should’ve short-circuited Monday night. Electric signals buzzed its way with a lightning-like frequency it hadn’t seen since last season. Its lights were ablaze with action.
No, neither of the local NBA teams that had used it in recent days were playing here. They were up the straight in their usual haunt, trading baskets.
It was the building’s usual tenant –- USC –- that put on an offensive exhibition, which was highly unusual considering the Trojans’ abysmal offensive performances this season.
But for a night, USC couldn’t seem to miss, and the Trojans routed Texas Christian, 83-59, to snap a three-game losing streak.
It marked a season-high in points for USC (5-7). Its previous season-high was 66, which it reached in its season-opening win against Cal State Northridge.
The Trojans got big performances from guard Maurice Jones, who scored 25 points, including 18 in the first half, and center Dewayne Dedmon added 14 points and six rebounds.
Freshmen guards Byron Wesley (13) and Alexis Moore (12) also scored in double figures for USC.
USC led by nine at halftime and it started the second half with a 19-9 run to take a 61-42 lead with 12 minutes 42 seconds left. From there, USC kept pouring it on.
The Trojans shot 28 for 55 (50.9%) from the floor and made 8 of 17 three-point shots. But USC was also able to turn its defense into offense by converting 20 TCU turnovers into 24 points. The Trojans also had a big advantage in points-in-the-paint: 36 to 16.
TCU (7-4) was led in scoring by Hank Thorns, who had 12.
USC’s final tune-up before Pac-12 Conference play is No. 12 Kansas, which was upset by unranked Davidson, 80-74, on Monday in Kansas City, Mo.
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