NCAAB Game Recap - Utah at USC
Wed Feb 6, 2019 11:00 PM EST

Nev
98
ColSt
82
F
Crei
59
Vill
66
F(OT)
Wisc
56
Minn
51
F
LSU
92
MissSt
88
F(OT)
MD
60
Nebras
45
F
UConn
63
Temp
81
F
WichSt
65
ECU
49
F
UNH
62
UMassL
72
F
N AL
64
FlGlf
71
F
Stony
85
Bingha
59
F
Maine
63
Vermt
86
F
Amer
67
Navy
77
F
ND
47
Mia-FL
62
F
Ford
85
UMass
67
F
Buck
84
LoyMD
72
F
KennSt
73
JU
82
F
Clem
65
GaTec
42
F
VCU
60
GrgWas
50
F
URI
53
David
68
F
Lafy
79
Boston
72
F
TAMU
71
Miss
75
F
GMas
67
Rich
81
F
Lipsco
92
NFla
55
F
Hartfo
70
UMBC
61
F
Evans
62
IndSt
85
F
Army
42
HolyC
56
F
NOrl
81
NWSt
73
F(OT)
McNee
62
SHSU
77
F
GTown
76
Prov
67
F
StBon
51
Duques
49
F
GaSo
103
UL
86
F
GASt
76
ULM
82
F
NDSU
74
UND
70
F
Brad
79
NrthIA
71
F
AbCh
75
Lamar
64
F
SFA
79
HCU
77
F
SeLA
64
TXAMC
58
F
SIU
59
MOSt
65
F
Baylor
72
Tex
84
F
Colora
84
UCLA
73
F
OkSt
68
TCU
70
F
Wyo
76
AF
81
F
UGA
74
Bama
89
F
Cal
62
Oreg
73
F
CSNor
64
UCSB
70
F
CS-Ful
53
UCIrv
60
F
Utah
77
USC
70
F
UNLV
83
Bois
72
F

Utah 77, USC 70

Feb 6, 2019, 11:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Utah

37

40

77

USC

23

47

70

Utah holds on for 77-70 win over USC
Thu Feb 7, 2019 2:42 AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) After losing twice last week at home, Utah made the road look very comfortable Wednesday night in a 77-70 victory over USC.

The Utes (12-10, 6-4) led by as many 23 points midway through the second half, before holding off a furious rally by the Trojans (13-10, 6-4).

Utah picked up 13 points and 13 rebounds from Jayce Johnson. Both Gach led the team with 15 points, while Sedrick Barefield added 13 points and five assists and Donnie Tillman added 13 points. Riley Battin and Parker Van Dyke each had nine points.

"We had almost six guys in double figures, so the ball was obviously shared," said Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak.

Utah took control early, leading by 20 points late in the first half. USC never led.

"That was our worst effort in a long time," USC coach Andy Enfield said. "I'm disappointed in our team. I'll take the blame for that."

USC struggled with its shot for most of the night, before finally starting to find a groove late in the second half and making a run that never got them closer than the final seven-point differential.

Jonah Mathews led USC with 18 points, while Bennie Boatwright had 17 points - all but two coming in the second half - and 12 rebounds.

The Utes held USC to 35.7 percent shooting in the first half and to just 2 of 11 on 3-point attempts.

"It was danged good defense," Krystkowiak said. "We were locked in. They have some really good offensive players and we tried to make things difficult for them. We did that for a long stretch, then we lost some of that in the second half."

Mathews hit three 3-pointers in the second half to lead the USC rally and put a slight scare into the Utes.

"It was a game of streaks," Krystkowiak said. "Maybe more than any game I can remember. But we made enough plays going down the stretch."

COMING OUT FLAT

USC, which had been playing well of late, could never recover from its slow start.

"We're as talented as any team in America, and if we don't play hard it shows," Mathews said. "When we started playing hard, we started scoring more."

Said Enfield: "Utah played well tonight, but this had more to do with us. They're a good basketball team and I won't discredit what they did because they did play very well, but we have to play better as a team."

NICE HOMECOMING

The 7-foot Johnson played his high school ball about 15 minutes from USC in Santa Monica and enjoyed his return to Los Angeles, being active under the basket all night.

"He did a nice job on the glass for us and finished at the rim," Krystkowiak said.

BIG PICTURE

Utah: After having a four-game win streak snapped in losing both home games last week, the Utes pushed their conference record to 6-4.

USC: The Trojans are stumbling at a bad time in conference play. After winning seven of nine games, they have now dropped two of their last three to fall back to 6-4 in conference play.

UP NEXT

Utah moves across town on Saturday to meet UCLA. The Utes split their series with Bruins last year and are 3-7 all-time at Pauley Pavilion.

USC remains at home to meet Colorado on Saturday. The Trojans have won their last four games against the Buffaloes.

Leaders

Utah PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
B. Gach 15 0 2 4 0 1
S. Barefield 13 0 5 3 2 0
USC PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Mathews 18 0 2 3 1 0
B. Boatwright 17 0 0 12 0 0

Team Comparison

Utah USC
Points For 77 70
Field Goals 26/57-46% 27/71-38%
Three Pointers 11/29-38% 9/26-35%
Free Throws 14/21-67% 7/11-64%
Offensive Rebounds 10 13
Defensive Rebounds 32 24
Rebounds 48 39
Blocks 3 2
Steals 4 6
Turnovers 15 6
Personal Fouls 14 17
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

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

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Wed Feb 6 Utah 77 @ USC 70 B. Gach 15 J. Mathews 18

Game Information

Stadium: Galen Center, Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 2,952
Game Time: