The USC Trojans staged a furious second-half rally after allowing 50 points to Long Beach State in the first half. The Trojans (7-4) fell behind by as many as 16 points before taking a one-point lead with 1:11 left, but they couldn't hold onto the margin as the 49ers (2-9) took a 72-71 victory at Walter Pyramid.
Mike Caffey scored the game-winning bucket with 17 seconds remaining when he came around a staggered, high double screen and drove to the lane, shooting a layup between Byron Wesley and Nikola Jovanovic. Caffey led all scorers with 22 points. Long Beach State's Tyler Lamb had 20 points, including 18 first-half points, in his first game in a 49ers' uniform after transferring from UCLA.
Pe'Shon Howard scored 19 points on 5-of-14 shooting to lead USC. Omar Oraby had one of his best games of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Oraby was 5-for-6 from the field and made all seven free throw attempts. Leading scorer and rebounder Byron Wesley did not start due to a "coach's decision" and played only six minutes in the first half. Wesley finished with 2 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
USC stays on the road for its next contest, traveling to Dayton on Sunday for a 2 p.m. ET start (11 p.m. PT).