USC
Utah
USC's Home Streak Ends With Utah Loss, 80-69
February 21, 2016 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES (AP) Jakob Poeltl had 29 points and 13 rebounds, and Utah shot 54 percent to beat Southern California, 80-69, Sunday, handing the Trojans their first loss in 16 home games.
Jordan Loveridge added 13 points, and Brandon Taylor had 10 rebounds for the Utes (21-7, 10-5 Pac-12). They won their fourth in a row and ninth in 11 games to remain third in the league standings.
Jordan McLaughlin scored 20 points, and Julian Jacobs and Bennie Boatwright added 17 points each for the Trojans (19-8, 8-6), who fell to 15-1 at Galen Center while dropping to fifth in the Pac-12.
Leading 40-30 at halftime, the Utes came out of the break with consecutive 3-pointers by Loveridge and Taylor, and two free throws from Kyle Kuzma for a 47-32 lead.
The Trojans answered with a 12-2 run, including two 3-pointers by Jacobs and four points from McLaughlin, to close to 49-44, the closest they got in the second half.
USC didn't get to the free-throw line until 14:19 remaining in the second half, and went 3 of 6.
Utah made 11 of 15 foul shots, with Poeltl hitting 7 of 8.
Poeltl, a 7-footer from Austria, dominated in a 23-13 run that restored Utah's lead to 15 points. He scored 12 in the Utes' spurt that kept them ahead 72-57.
Utah led 14-9 to start the game before Jacobs and McLaughlin combined for 10 straight points to pull the Trojans within one. They fell behind by 14 later in the half before getting within 10 at halftime on a 3-pointer by Katin Reinhardt that beat the buzzer.
TIP-INS
Utah: Poeltl had his 12th double-double of the season. ... The Utes became the first Pac-12 team to sweep the Los Angeles schools this season, having won by two points at UCLA on Thursday. ... They extended their winning streak to six games against USC. ... They played their final road game of the regular season, finishing 5-4.
USC: The Trojans trailed at halftime at home for the first time this season. ... They are still seeking the school's first 20-win season since 2008-09.
UP NEXT
Utah: Hosts Arizona State on Thursday.
USC: Visits Stanford on Thursday. The Trojans have lost four straight to the Cardinal and are 2-11 in their last 13 games at Maples Pavilion.
