USC
20-8,12-5Pac-12
Colorado
15-14,7-11Pac-12
USC Men's Basketball Wins 20th Game With 84-65 Rout At Colorado
February 23, 2023 | Men's Basketball
Boogie Ellis scored 21 points as USC men's baskeball defeated Colorado in Boulder, 84-65, on Thursday.
The Trojans won their 20th game of the 2022-23 campaign, setting the school record for most consecutive 20-win seasons at four.
For the first time in program history, we've now posted four straight 20-win seasons!
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 24, 2023
Say it with us: Thanks, Enfield! pic.twitter.com/OeRu1BVHw8
Ellis, the third-highest scorer in the Pac-12 coming into Thursday at 17.1 points per game, scored over 20 points for the ninth time this season on 7-of-16 shooting with two assists.
Kobe Johnson added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds and two steals. Reese Dixon-Waters also scored 15 with five boards and two dimes. Drew Peterson finished with 11 points and six rebounds while Tre White scored 10 with six boards.
Despite spotting Colorado (15-14, 7-11 Pac-12) the first five points of the game, USC (20-8, 12-5 Pac-12) took control when it went on a 13-2 run midway into the first half. The Trojans hit six of 11 3-pointers in the opening period as USC went into halftime with a 43-30 lead.
KOB3 JOHNSON
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 24, 2023
Trojans on a 13-2 run! 🔥
📺: ESPN2
📱: https://t.co/x9LYWP8Vsu pic.twitter.com/RCI0rKaNbq
The Trojans controlled the second half despite cooling from the 3-point line. Colorado trimmed USC's lead to single-digits with an 8-0 run midway into the final period but the Trojans pulled away with a 10-0 spurt capped by Johnson's and-one. The Buffaloes never trailed fewer than 13 points the rest of the game despite going on a late 7-0 run, which was promptly answered by USC's 11-2 stretch.
USC shot 56.9 percent from the field, its second best shooting performance of the season.
KJ Simpson finished with a team-high 18 points for Colorado, which played just eight players on Thursday as they missed J'Vonne Hadley, Javon Ruffin and Jalen Gabbidon. Leading scorer Tristin da Silva (16.1 points per game) was held to just six points.
USC plays its last road game of the regular season on Saturday at Utah. The Trojans return to Galen Center next week for its final homestand against No. 7 Arizona on Thursday (8pm PT/ESPN) and Arizona State on March 4 (8pm PT/FS1). Tickets to all USC home games start at $20.
"Huge dub!"@iamkobejohnson | @smartfinal pic.twitter.com/ckb6n8mU8A
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) February 24, 2023
