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USC Basketball: Trojans Snap Losing Skid, Defeat Utah 68-64

USC defeats Utah at home.

Eva Geitheim

USC Basketball: Trojans Snap Losing Skid, Defeat Utah 68-64
USC Basketball: Trojans Snap Losing Skid, Defeat Utah 68-64 /
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Your USC Trojans men's basketball team finally earned its tenth win of the season in a thrilling 68-64 home victory over Utah Thursday night. The victory halts the Cardinal and Gold's latest losing streak at a scant two contests.

As the Utes tried to tie the game in the closing seconds, big man Joshua Morgan supplied a crucial block to seal the win.

The Trojans controlled the game for much of the first half, holding a double digit lead at several points. They ended the half with a 34-29 lead. One of the keys for USC early on was limiting Utah's effectiveness at shooting three-pointers. The Utes did not make their first successful three-pointer until late in the first half, and finished the first half with just an 8% success rate on three-point attempts.

Utah came back in the second half and challenged USC, even taking a one-point lead during the second period. 

The Trojans pulled away again, before the Utes challenged and came within two points of USC in the final minute. Instead of backing down or blowing a lead like the Trojans might have done over their losing streak earlier this year, USC held strong and got a narrow 68-64 win.

This game also marked freshman stud Isaiah Collier's return to the Galen Center for the first time since his hand injury. Collier led the team in scoring, putting up 15 points, five rebounds and six assists. DJ Rodman finished right behind Collier with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. Boogie Ellis ended the night third in scoring for the Trojans — despite shooting just 28.6% from the field tonight — and posted 11 points, three rebounds and three assists. 

This marked an important win over USC heading into the final stretch of the year. While the Trojans likely won't be able to advance as far as they'd like this season, they are looking at a stronger end to the season, going 2-2 over their last four games.

The 10-15 Trojans will face a tougher challenge next, with a home game against the 16-9 Colorado Buffaloes this Saturday.

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Eva Geitheim
EVA GEITHEIM

Eva graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Communication. She has been covering college and professional sports since 2022.

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