LOS ANGELES (AP) Jordan McLaughlin scored 24 points and Southern California defeated BYU 91-84 on Saturday night in the second game of the inaugural Hoophall LA doubleheader at Staples Center.
No. 8 Gonzaga beat 16th-ranked Arizona 69-62 in the first game.
Shaqquan Aaron added a season-high 19 points and Elijah Stewart had 16 points for the Trojans (8-0), who equaled their best start since 2000-01. They joined Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and UCLA as the only West Coast teams that are still undefeated.
Eric Mika scored a career-high 29 points, TJ Haws added 16 points and Nick Emery had 15 points for the Cougars (5-3), who have lost three of four.
The Trojans stretched a seven-point halftime lead into a 15-point advantage to open the second half. McLaughlin and Stewart combined to score 10 straight points.
The Cougars reeled off eight in a row to close to 55-47 with Emery hitting a 3-pointer and Mika scoring the other five.
Chimezie Metu scored four straight to keep the Trojans ahead 77-64.
The Cougars outscored USC 11-3 to close to 80-75, making seven of eight free throws in the run. De'Anthony Melton answered with a 3-pointer for the Trojans, who hung on after leading by 16 early in the second half.
BIG PICTURE
BYU: The Cougars began with a bang, going on a 12-2 run to start the game. They couldn't manage another run the rest of the half and trailed 39-32 at the break. They had 11 of their 16 turnovers in the first half.
USC: The Trojans borrowed a page from BYU, starting the second half on a 10-2 run that extended their lead to 15 points.
UP NEXT
BYU: Hosts Weber State on Wednesday.
USC: The Trojans host Pepperdine on Dec. 11, giving them seven straight days without a game, their longest break of the season.
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