LOS ANGELES — Desmond Claude led the scoring for the Trojans with 19 points, while Saint Thomas contributed significantly with 13 points out of his career-high 17 in the first half. Southern California maintained control throughout the game, ultimately defeating Montana State by a score of 89-63.

Claude displayed impressive shooting, hitting 6 of his 8 attempts from the field and successfully converting 7 of 8 free throws. Chibuzo Agbo also played a key role with 12 points, and Rashaun Agee added 10 points for USC.

The Trojans set the tone right from the beginning, as Claude executed a layup just 17 seconds into the game, and the team never looked back. Shortly after, Agbo sank a 3-pointer, and despite Brandon Walker’s layup for Montana State at 17:57 in the first half, USC unleashed a dominant run, scoring 22 of the next 25 points. This surge culminated in a 27-5 lead when Saint Thomas netted a 3-pointer with 9:58 remaining before halftime.

At the halftime buzzer, Southern California had established a robust 47-21 advantage and never let up, leading by at least 20 points for the remainder of the contest.

For Montana State, Walker emerged as the top scorer with 14 points, shooting 5-of-11 from the floor. The supporting cast encountered challenges, with the team collectively shooting only 30%, or 15 of 50 from the field. Jeremiah Davis stood out at the free-throw line, converting all 8 of his attempts and tallying 11 points, with nine of those coming in the second half.

Southern California exhibited strong shooting, finishing with a 51% success rate, making 32 of 63 attempts. They also dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Montana State 49 to 27.