LOS ANGELES — Chibuzo Agbo led the USC Trojans with a strong performance, scoring 23 points, while Desmond Claude added 21 points as the Trojans pulled away in the second half for a decisive 90-69 victory over Cal State Northridge on Wednesday night.

Saint Thomas also contributed to the win with 16 points, and Josh Cohen added 12 points for the Trojans, who improved their record to 8-4 with this win, marking their third consecutive victory after a brief three-game losing streak.

For the Matadors, both PJ Fuller II and Keonte Jones scored 17 points each. The game saw a competitive first half, with USC initially ahead but facing strong opposition from CSUN. Thomas knocked down two three-pointers in quick succession, and Claude followed with a three-point play, helping USC build a 14-point lead while ultimately maintaining a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game.

In the first half, USC launched a 13-2 run that transformed a slim 9-8 lead into a more commanding 22-10 with 13:54 remaining. CSUN, however, began to chip away at the deficit, effectively utilizing a speedy style of play that allowed them success in the paint. In fact, the Matadors outperformed USC in the paint during the first half, scoring 20 points to USC’s 12.

The Matadors went on a streak, culminating in a layup by Jones that capped off a scoring spree, giving CSUN a brief 36-35 lead. Just as the first half was drawing to a close, reserve player Kevin Patton delivered a three-pointer that put USC minimally ahead at 40-39.

USC opened the second half strong, scoring the first eight points, but CSUN quickly responded with a 6-2 run that narrowed the gap to 50-44.

Next, the Matadors will face Chicago State on Saturday, while USC is set to host Southern University this coming Sunday.