The USC Trojans won their college basketball season opener Friday night, a 66-59 victory over the Cal State Northridge Matadors at Galen Center. The Trojans got 16 points apiece from Maurice Jones, Dewayne Dedmon, and Aaron Fuller in the win, the fourth straight season opener win for USC.
The game was a Kevin O'Neill special, as the Trojans' head coach prefers a scrappy defensive struggle. The Trojans held the Matadors to 24.2% shooting from the field (16 for 66), including just 19.0% from distance (four for 21). The Trojans made none of their 16 three-point attempts, but made up for it by making 20 of 31 two-pointers (64.5%).
Jones made just two of 13 field goals, including 0-for-8 from three-point range. But he made up for it with 15 foul shots, making 12. USC's Alexis Moore missed his first seven field goal attempts, all from beyond the arc, but made a layup as time expired to provide the final margin.
USC was outrebounded by CSUN 29-22. Stephen Hicks led the Matadors with 19 points, though he made just five of 17 field goal attempts. The Trojans remain in Los Angeles this weekend and host the Nebraska Cornhuskers Monday night at Galen Center, a 7:30 p.m. PST start that will be televised by Prime Ticket.
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