Kobe Johnson helps push USC to a comeback victory over Oregon State

Kobe Johnson scored 17 points and shot seven for 10 from the field, and USC’s methodical second-half comeback led to a 63-62 win on Sunday night over Oregon State.

Dzmitry Ryuny’s three-pointer early in the second half gave the Beavers their last double-digit lead of the night at 37-27. The Trojans (6-3, 2-0 Pac-12 Conference) then started their persistent climb back. With USC down 53-50 with less than three minutes to go, Johnson made a three-pointer and a layup in a 17-second stretch, and the Trojans held on.

Jordan Pope’s three-pointer with three seconds left brought Oregon State (4-5, 1-1) to within 63-62. Dexter Akanno fouled the Trojans’ Joshua Morgan, who missed both foul shots, but Oregon State failed to get off a shot.

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Johnson’s 5-0 outburst marked USC’s first lead since Morgan’s jumper with 7:19 before intermission put the Trojans up 14-13.

Backup Glenn Taylor Jr’s. three with 6:24 before halftime broke a 15-all tie and started an 11-0 run for Oregon State over the next minute and a half. The Beavers shot 14 for 25 in the first half, including six for 12 on three-point attempts. USC was one for six from beyond the arc before intermission.

Morgan scored 15 points for USC, and Drew Peterson had 10. Morgan entered the game second in the nation with 29 blocked shots, and he had three more against Oregon State. The Trojans didn’t help themselves offensively, going four for 16 from three-point range and 13 for 21 from the foul line.

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Akanno scored 17 points for Oregon State, and Pope and Taylor each had 11.

USC has won 11 of its last 14 games against the Beavers. USC leads the all-time series 78-66. (USC vacated two wins because of NCAA penalty.)