Better than last year...

Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

I didn't see the first half but from what I saw in the secnd half SC did what many thought they would...take advantage of their size and their defense.

Tyrese Rice had only one field goal in the entire 2nd half and Taj Gibson had another great game to boost SC to a first round win against BC. Rice's FG came with less than two minutes to play in the game. The whole complexion of the game changed when BC's Josh Southern was called for his 4th foul. That took BC's big man out of the game.

Down early in the 2nd half SC battled back and went on an 11-0 run.

A jump shot by Gibson with 12:50 remaining in the game gave the Trojans the lead for good, 46-44, and USC pulled away by dominating every phase of the game.

Gibson's perfect shooting was the second-best performance in NCAA tournament history with a minimum 10 attempts, behind Kentucky's Kenny Walker and his 11-for-11 in 1986. Gibson matched Marvin Barnes of Providence and Christian Laettner of Duke, who were 10-for-10 in 1973 and 1992, respectively.

Marcus Simmons did what we thaought he would do and shadowed Rice for most of the game. SC dominated the boards on both ends of the court as well led by DeMar DeRozan with nine rebounds to go with his 18 points.

SC now awaits the winne of the Michigan St. v. Robert Morris game just getting underway.

I will have more tomorrow...this is our post game thread.

FIGHT ON!