USC
Mercer
Mercer Upsets No. 18 USC, 96-81
November 10, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2007
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LOS ANGELES (AP) -James Florence scored 30 points and tiny Mercer stunned No. 18 Southern California 96-81 Saturday, spoiling the college debut of O.J. Mayo.
Mayo, one of the nation's most prized recruits, led the Trojans with 32 points, but he couldn't help them overcome 19 turnovers and going 18-of-32 from the line.
The small-school Bears from Macon, Ga., had the Trojans in trouble early. Mercer shot 59 percent in the first half, when it led by 21 points.
Calvin Henry added 14 points for Mercer (1-0), which had five players in double figures, 12 steals and outscored USC 14-6 on fast-breaks.
USC fell to 0-3 in season openers under coach Tim Floyd. They lost the two previous years in overtime to Cal State Northridge and South Carolina.
The Trojans won't play their lone exhibition game until Dec. 8, so they jumped into the regular season without playing anybody but each other in practice.
USC shot 29 percent in the first half and missed a slew of open shots. Mayo committed four of his team's nine turnovers in the half.
The Trojans opened the second half with a 22-8 run, including 10 by Mayo, who had fans on their feet with a breakaway one-handed layin.
He whipped a behind-the-head pass to Taj Gibson, who missed on the drive, but Gibson dunked on USC's next possession to get them to 55-52.
Gibson finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Angelo Johnson had 17 points for the Trojans.
Mercer answered USC's run with six straight points and soon restored its lead to double digits on a 3-pointer by Brian Mills.
Mayo came up with three 3-pointers in the final three minutes, but the game was already out of reach.
Mayo wore No. 32 in tribute to his favorite childhood player Magic Johnson; it's also the number O.J. Simpson wore as a Heisman Trophy-winning running back for the Trojans.
In a look reminiscent of Kobe Bryant, another of his favorites, Mayo wore black sleeves on both arms and both legs.
USC played without guard Daniel Hackett, who has a broken jaw but will return to practice on Monday, and freshman Mamadou Diarra, who had hernia surgery.
