USC Vs. Minnesota: Trojans Fall 55-40

Despite center Dewayne Dedmon returning less than a week after being diagnosed with a stress injury in his right foot, the USC Trojans had no answer for the size of the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday, falling 55-40 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Rodney Williams - no, the arena isn't named after him - scored 12 and pulled down nine rebounds for the Gophers and had a raucous 360-degree breakaway dunk in the first half as Minnesota began to pull away.

Williams Arena is affectionately known as "The Barn" in Minnesota, and the Trojans shot like they couldn't hit the broad side of The Barn on Saturday. USC shot just 32.7% from the field, making just 16 of 49 shots. The Trojans were outrebounded by the Gophers 34-24.

Dedmon scored two points and grabbed four rebounds in 26 minutes for USC, who was led by Maurice Jones with 14 points in 37 minutes. This was the Trojans' second loss to a Big Ten foe this season, as they had already lost to Nebraska. USC has a week off before hosting the New Mexico Lobos next Saturday afternoon at Galen Center.

For more USC basketball news and notes, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles.

USC Vs. Minnesota Game Score: Dewayne Dedmon Starts For Trojans, Who Trail At Halftime 28-16

USC Trojans center Dewayne Dedmon on Monday was diagnosed with a foot injury that was supposed to have him miss up to six weeks. Yet there he was in uniform on Saturday afternoon at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, starting against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Dedmon and the Trojans trail Minnesota 28-16 at halftime.

USC went without a field goal for the final 6:21 of the first half, turning a 16-15 deficit into trailing by 12 at the half.

Maurice Jones led the Trojans with seven points, making a pair of three-pointers. USC shot just 21.4% (six for 28) in the first half, but managed to stay close for a while by holding Minnesota without a field goal for nearly seven minutes. The Gophers made all nine of their free throw attempts in the first half.

The Trojans made three of eight three-point attempts in the first half, and three of 20 two-point attempts.

Dedmon was diagnosed with a stress injury to the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, and was limited to non-weightbearing activity for at least one week and had to use a walking boot and crutches. For someone with a foot injury, Dedmon seemed to move pretty well on the floor, but he was limited to just two rebounds and no points in 14 minutes.

For more USC basketball news and notes, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles.

USC Vs. Minnesota: Trojans Look For Third Straight Win

USC last played Minnesota on March 24, 1993, a 76-58 loss in the NIT quarterfinals.