USC Men's Basketball: Utah over the Trojans 80-69

USC (19-8) met the Runnin' Utes (21-7) at home in the Galen Center on Sunday afternoon. The Trojans haven't allowed a team to come into their house and beat them all season.

Both teams came in with strong defense. USC's Jordan McLaughlin scored the three first to start things off. He followed it up with two more. Utah went off on a seven point run ten minutes into the game. Utah's Austrian important Jakob Poeltl had already had 13 points and 7 rebounds early and Utah was up headed into the final minutes of the first half.

It was 40 - 27 for the Utes just before the half when USC's Katin Reinhardt hit a clutch three with five seconds left. It woke up the stadium and gave the Trojans life. Utah had 15 points off turnovers in the first and they didn't foul USC once. They played really good basketball.

Early in the second the Trojans went on their own seven point run to answer Utah's first half run. Within five minutes, USC had the game within five thanks to McLaughlin and Julian Jacobs who had 13 points each. The Trojans extended the run to 12-2. Utah had three turnovers in just over five minutes, which you know, helps.

With just over 12 minutes left in the game, Poeltl had 20 points and eight rebounds. Utah was up by 10. Poeltl reached 500 points this season during this game. Freshman Bennie Boatwright finally hit the net to give USC some life. The fun wouldn't last long.

McLaughlin and Jacobs had 15 apiece at 6:51. It was clear a comeback wasn't in the cards. Utah matched everything and then some. McLaughlin had 20 points and 3 assists by the time it was over. But, Poeltl was too much. Utah's big guy filled out his night with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Utah won 80-69, handing the Trojans their first home loss of the season.