USC Trojans @ Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado takes over in 2nd half to defeat short-handed USC 68-58 in Bronny James' first start
BOULDER, Colo. -- — J'Vonne Hadley led a balanced attack with 15 points and Colorado held USC to 21 points in the second half as the Buffaloes defeated the short-handed Trojans 68-58 on Saturday night in freshman Bronny James' first start for the Trojans.
James was no factor as USC raced to a 37-24 halftime lead. His struggles continued in the second half when Hadley had 10 points and Colorado took over. James finished 0-for-7 shooting, with three shots coming from 3-point range. He added two rebounds and an assist in 25 minutes.
Cody Williams scored 13 points for the Buffaloes (12-5, 3-3 Pac-12 Conference), who ended a three-game losing streak. Tristan da Silva and Eddie Lampkin both scored 12.
Colorado improved to 10-0 at home and got its 500th victory in the CU Events Center.
Oziyah Sellers had a career-high 18 points for the Trojans (8-9, 2-4) and Kobe Johnson, DJ Rodman and Vincent Iwuchukwu all scored 10.
USC was without Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier and Joshua Morgan. Ellis (18.7 ppg) strained a hamstring a week earlier but played in the Trojans' last game. That's when Collier (15.4) suffered a hand injury that will keep him out 4 to 6 weeks. Morgan (69% shooting) missed his second game with a respiratory infection.
Colorado was up 59-55 with three minutes to go when Williams scored in the lane. Simpson drilled a key 3-pointer with 1:13 to go and Lampkin had a monster dunk at 48 seconds, when USC coach Andy Enfield picked up a technical. Williams made a free throw to finish the clinching 9-0 run.
Colorado went 5 of 15 over the last 7-plus minutes and still finished at 56% in the second half (18 of 32). The Trojans were 7 for 29 (24%) in the second half with 10 turnovers.
Sellers matched his career high in the first half with 16 points when the Trojans took a 37-24 lead. Colorado, a team that shoots just a fraction over 50%, was 9 of 29 (31%).
Sellers had four points to start a 12-0 run that was capped by Johnson's three-point play for a 27-11 lead at the 8:42 mark.
The Buffaloes had a late 9-3 surge to get within 10, but Sellers came up with five points just before halftime.
Colorado scored six quick points out of halftime and turned that into a 12-2 surge, closing within 39-36 on a layup by Da Silva. The Buffaloes tied the game on a fastbreak layup by Julian Hammond III and after Kijani Wright scored for USC, Luke O'Brien put Colorado up 46-45 with a 3-pointer, the Buffs' first lead since 9-8.
Colorado stays home to face the Oregon schools, starting with the Ducks on Thursday. USC goes on its Arizona swing, starting with the No. 8 Wildcats on Wednesday.
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Game Information
Boulder, CO

Referee:D.G. Nelson
Referee:Justin Shamion
Referee:De Selle Dean

2025-26 Standings
| Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 17-1 | - | 27-2 |
| Nebraska | 14-4 | 3 | 25-4 |
| Michigan State | 14-4 | 3 | 24-5 |
| Illinois | 13-5 | 4 | 22-7 |
| Purdue | 12-6 | 5 | 22-7 |
| Wisconsin | 12-6 | 5 | 20-9 |
| UCLA | 11-7 | 6 | 19-10 |
| Iowa | 10-8 | 7 | 20-9 |
| Ohio State | 10-8 | 7 | 18-11 |
| Indiana | 8-10 | 9 | 17-12 |
| USC | 7-11 | 10 | 18-11 |
| Minnesota | 7-11 | 10 | 14-15 |
| Washington | 6-12 | 11 | 14-15 |
| Northwestern | 5-13 | 12 | 13-16 |
| Rutgers | 5-13 | 12 | 12-17 |
| Oregon | 4-14 | 13 | 11-18 |
| Maryland | 4-14 | 13 | 11-18 |
| Penn State | 3-15 | 14 | 12-17 |
| Big 12 ConferenceBig 12 Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 15-2 | - | 28-2 |
| Houston | 12-4 | 2.5 | 24-5 |
| Texas Tech | 12-4 | 2.5 | 22-7 |
| Kansas | 11-5 | 3.5 | 21-8 |
| Iowa State | 11-6 | 4 | 24-6 |
| UCF | 9-7 | 5.5 | 20-8 |
| TCU | 9-7 | 5.5 | 19-10 |
| BYU | 8-8 | 6.5 | 20-9 |
| West Virginia | 8-8 | 6.5 | 17-12 |
| Cincinnati | 8-8 | 6.5 | 16-13 |
| Colorado | 6-10 | 8.5 | 16-13 |
| Arizona State | 6-10 | 8.5 | 15-14 |
| Oklahoma State | 5-11 | 9.5 | 17-12 |
| Baylor | 5-11 | 9.5 | 15-14 |
| Kansas State | 2-14 | 12.5 | 11-18 |
| Utah | 2-14 | 12.5 | 10-19 |
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