NCAAB Game Recap - Stanford at USC
Sun Jan 6, 2019 8:00 PM EST

Ind
63
Mich
74
F
Xav
52
Marq
70
F
Mem
77
Hou
90
F
Wisc
71
PSU
52
F
Nebras
84
Iowa
93
F
Rich
48
Dayt
72
F
Ill
66
NW
68
F
HolyC
48
Navy
50
F
Seton
74
DeP
75
F
GrgWas
70
StJos
56
F
LoyMD
72
Leh
89
F
Amer
69
Colg
73
F
DicST
53
NDSU
85
F
Temp
85
WichSt
81
F(OT)
URI
53
StLou
60
F
StBon
53
GMas
68
F
SDSt
79
SDak
61
F
Mia-FL
73
Lou
90
F
Stan
66
USC
77
F
(N/A)
Harv
Canc

USC 77, Stanford 66

Jan 6, 2019, 8:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Stanford

21

45

66

USC

31

46

77

USC Edges Stanford for first 2-0 conference start in 10 year
Sun Jan 6, 2019 11:25 PM

LOS ANGELES (AP) Nick Rakocevic and Bennie Boatwright have become a formidable duo for USC men's basketball team.

Rakocevic scored 23 points and Bennie Boatwright added 22 to lead USC to a 77-66 win over Stanford on Sunday night. They combined for 45 points and 17 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, two steals and just two turnovers.

Boatwright, a senior, has battled many injuries but now that he's healthy they've formed quite a combination on the court.

"It's our chemistry. We're really close," Boatwright said. "He knows every move, so I'm trying to figure out what moves are good. We're really close and it shows on the court. He can find me, and I can find him and we work together as a tandem."

USC (9-6, 2-0 Pac-12) has won its first two conference games of the season for the first time since 2010 and four straight overall.

Stanford (7-7, 0-2) has lost three of its last four games.

Cormac Ryan scored a career-high 18 points - all on six second-half 3-pointers - for Stanford. Daejon Davis had 14 points and Okpala 12 for the Cardinal.

USC scored the first 13 points and didn't trail until KZ Okpala's 3-pointer gave Stanford a 49-46 lead with 12:45 left. It remained close until USC pulled away with an 11-0 run for a 68-55 lead when Rakocevic made 1 of 2 free throws with 2:22 remaining.

Rakocevic, who scored a career-high 27 points in USC's Pac-12 opener against Cal, had 14 in the first half. He finished with 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season.

The frontcourt was in a groove, and the Cardinal couldn't top stop it.

"Bennie played like an all-league player tonight, like he is," USC coach Andy Enfield said. "He had such a calm game with the pace. He drove when he had to, he posted up, he shot the perimeter jump shot. He made great passes. He made the right decisions over and over. When we have that consistency on our front line with Nick and Boat, it's fun to watch because they play so well together."

USC led by as many as 13 points before taking a 31-21 lead into the half. Stanford caught fire and went on a 10-2 run in the second half to cut the lead to 35-31. A Bryce Willis dunk tied the game at 43.

But Boatwright and Rakocevic did their thing down the stretch.

"We have to find a way to work on our interior defense right now," Stanford coach Jerod Haase said. "It's not working, so our guys need to figure out a way to get bigger faster and stronger and as a coach I need to figure out different schemes to defend the basket better."

OH NOT AGAIN

USC's Jonah Mathews left the court with an ankle injury but quickly returned after his ankle was taped by trainers. For the brief period he was gone, USC was down to six healthy scholarship players ... Guard Elijah Weaver, who injured his ankle in a walkthrough Thursday and missed the Cal and Stanford games, is expected to return this week.

COURTSIDE STAR POWER

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer attended the game and sat courtside. It was a double-header of basketball as he attended the Clippers' win over Orlando at nearby Staples Center, then made it to Galen Center.

BIG PICTURE

Stanford: The Cardinal put itself in a hole by losing its first two conference games but returns home next.

USC: is proving it can win with little depth in a conference that isn't as strong as usual.

UP NEXT

Stanford: Hosts Arizona on Wednesday.

USC: Plays Thursday at Oregon State.

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More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Stanford PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
C. Ryan 18 0 5 0 2 0
D. Davis 14 0 9 2 1 1
USC PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
N. Rakocevic 23 0 1 10 2 2
B. Boatwright 22 0 2 7 0 1

Team Comparison

Stan USC
Points For 66 77
Field Goals 25/54-46% 30/62-48%
Three Pointers 10/25-40% 4/15-27%
Free Throws 6/10-60% 13/18-72%
Offensive Rebounds 7 13
Defensive Rebounds 21 23
Rebounds 29 41
Blocks 7 3
Steals 5 7
Turnovers 15 10
Personal Fouls 20 16
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - USC Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Sun Jan 6 Stan 66 @ USC 77 C. Ryan 18 N. Rakocevic 23

Game Information

Stadium: Galen Center, Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 3,768
Game Time: