LOS ANGELES, Calif.—USC's DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with
18 points and Oral Roberts University was limited to 39 percent
shooting in a 66-56 USC victory, Sunday at the Galen Center.
In the final non-conference game for the Golden Eagles (3-11), ORU
couldn't overcome the Trojans' significant size and athleticism
advantage. The Golden Eagles were forced into 21 turnovers and made
just 4-of-20 shots from 3-point range.
The Trojans (9-3) led from start to finish, but struggled to gain
any real distance in the first half. A three-pointer by Beloved
Rogers (Baltimore, Md.) trimmed USC's 11-point lead to 22-14
with 9:09 before halftime. A jumper in the paint by Marcus
Lewis (Long Beach, Calif.) pulled ORU within 26-18 with 4:01
before the break.
USC led 32-23 at halftime.
Southern Cal slowly built a seemingly insurmountable lead early in
the second half, opening the final 20 minutes with an 18-9 run to
take a 50-32 lead with 14:57 to go. But the Golden Eagles just as
slowly clawed their way back in to it.
Down 54-36 with 10:24 left, ORU went on an 11-2 run to pull within
58-47 on a
Kyron Stokes (Mansfield, Texas) free throw with
3:40 left.
After three straight Trojan free throws made it 61-47, a
three-pointer by
Dominique Morrison (Kansas City, Mo.) and a layup
by
Andre Hardy (San Diego, Calif.) moved the Golden
Eagles to within 61-52 with 1:59 to play.
A
Kevin Ford (Portland, Ore.) dunk following one
free throw by DeRozan made it 62-54 with 1:36 to play, but that was
a close as the Golden Eagles could get.
Lewis led ORU with 11 points, adding five rebounds and four
assists. Ford scored 10 points and grabbed a season-high 11
rebounds, his second double-double in six games this season.
Taj Gibson and Dwight Lewis joined DeRozan in double figures.
Gibson had 16 points, eight rebounds and five blocks, while Lewis
chipped in 12 points.
While ORU was held in check offensively, the Golden Eagles
out-rebounded USC, 34-32. The Trojans entered the game fourth
nationally with a plus-10.9 rebound margin.
The Golden Eagles return to action when they resume Summit League
play at home against Centenary, 7:05 p.m., Friday at Mabee
Center.
--ORU--
