Colorado takes over in 2nd half to defeat short-handed USC 68-58 in Bronny James' first start
Cody Williams blocks Bronny James' layup attempt
Cody Williams makes a nice defensive play with this swat on Bronny James' shot attempt.
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
- Referees:
- D.G. Nelson
- Justin Shamion
- De Selle Dean
2024-25 Big Ten Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Iowa | 0-0 | - | 2-0 |
Michigan State | 0-0 | - | 2-0 |
USC | 0-0 | - | 2-0 |
Wisconsin | 0-0 | - | 2-0 |
Illinois | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Indiana | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Maryland | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Michigan | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Minnesota | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Nebraska | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Northwestern | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Ohio State | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Oregon | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Penn State | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Purdue | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Rutgers | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
UCLA | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Washington | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
2024-25 Big 12 Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Utah | 0-0 | - | 2-0 |
Arizona | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Arizona State | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
BYU | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Cincinnati | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Colorado | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Houston | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Iowa State | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Kansas | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Kansas State | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Oklahoma State | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
TCU | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Texas Tech | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
UCF | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
West Virginia | 0-0 | - | 1-0 |
Baylor | 0-0 | - | 0-1 |