USC defeats Utah, moves into second-place tie with Arizona in Pac-12

SALT LAKE CITY —  Boogie Ellis scored 16 points, Drew Peterson added 14 and USC picked up its fourth straight win with a 62-49 victory over Utah on Saturday night.

USC ties No. 7 Arizona for second place in the Pac-12 Conference with the win. Arizona State stunned the Wildcats 89-88 earlier Saturday on Desmond Cambridge’s 55-foot three-pointer at the buzzer.

Ellis made six of 12 shots, including four of eight from three-point range, for the Trojans (21-8, 13-5). Peterson hit two three-pointers and added eight assists and seven rebounds. Kobe Johnson finished with 12 points and three steals. Reese Dixon-Waters contributed nine points and six rebounds off the bench.

The victory clinched a first-round bye for USC in the Pac-12 tournament on March 8-11 in Las Vegas for the fourth consecutive season.

The Trojans host Arizona on Thursday and Arizona State on Saturday. If USC beats Arizona, it would clinch at least a tie for second place in the conference. A weekend sweep would give the Trojans second place outright.

USC Sports

Boogie Ellis scores 21 to help USC cruise past Colorado

Boogie Ellis scored 21 points, Kobe Johnson and Reese Dixon-Waters added 15, and USC breezed to an 84-65 victory over Colorado on Thursday.

Feb. 23, 2023

Marco Anthony scored 11 points to lead the Utes (17-13, 10-9), who have lost four straight. Branden Carlson totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Ellis sank three three-pointers and scored 11 points, Peterson added 10 and USC built a 34-28 lead at halftime. The Trojans shot only 39% overall, but they made eight of 15 from beyond the arc. Utah shot 34% overall and missed nine of 11 attempts from distance. The Utes had six turnovers to USC’s five, but the Trojans had an 11-0 edge in points off those turnovers.

Utah guard Marco Anthony, center, controls the ball between USC guards Tre White, left, Reese Dixon-Waters during the first half Saturday.

(Ben B. Braun / Associated Press)

Ellis buried a three-pointer to open the second half and a dunk by Vincent Iwuchukwu gave the Trojans a 43-36 lead with 13:51 left to play. Anthony followed with a layup and Mike Saunders Jr. hit a three-pointer to pull the Utes within two, but Johnson answered with a three-pointer and USC maintained a two-possession lead the rest of the way.

The Trojans shot 42% overall but made 11 of 23 from beyond the arc (64%). Utah shot 32% and made five of 22 attempts from distance.

Up next for USC: The Trojans head home to end the regular season, hosting No. 7 Arizona on Thursday and Arizona State on Saturday.

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