USC
New Mexico State
No. 19 USC Holds Off New Mexico State, 73-60
November 18, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2008
Final Box Score in PDF Format 
| AP Photo Gallery 
Watch the USC vs N.M. St. FULL GAME
Watch the USC vs N.M. St. Post Game Press Conference
AT&T Ask Coach: Best 3-Point Shooter? (FREE)
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Taj Gibson tied his career high with 22 points and had a career-best 10 rebounds as No. 19 Southern California defeated New Mexico State 73-60 on Tuesday night for its first 2-0 start in eight years.
Dwight Lewis added 16 points and Daniel Hackett, who fouled out with 2:38 remaining, had 10 for the Trojans, who won their season opener for the first time in four years last weekend. They opened the 2000-01 season with an 8-0 record.
DeMar DeRozan, USC's highly touted freshman making his second start, finished with seven points after scoring 14 in his college debut.
|
|
Jahmar Young had 16 points and seven rebounds, Troy Gillenwater added 15 points and Jonathan Gibson had 11 for the Aggies (1-1), who got within five points with 11:23 remaining before USC closed strongly to win.
Trailing 46-33, the Aggies outscored the Trojans 13-5 to close to 51-46. Gibson scored five points and Young added four, while defensively the Aggies were more aggressive.
But Gibson and Lewis, a couple of juniors, took over in a 16-10 spurt that put the game away. Gibson got things started with consecutive baskets en route to scoring eight points and Lewis had four to keep the Trojans ahead 67-56 with 3:43 remaining.
The Aggies were forced to foul down the stretch, and the Trojans responded by going 6-of-8 from the line.
USC dominated the boards 42-28, with Keith Wilkinson grabbing eight and freshman Leonard Washington seven.
The Trojans led by 17 points in the first half, outscoring the Aggies 31-14 to start the game. The spurt featured two 6-0 scoring bursts and an 11-0 run.
