USC men’s basketball unable to match pace of Saint Mary’s in heated matchup

Saint Mary’s dominated USC with a 71-36 victory at the Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert. Jordan Ross led the Gaels with 15 points, helping them improve to a 7-0 record. This is their best start since the 2013-14 season when they opened with nine straight wins. Paulius Murauskas and Augustas Marciulionis also contributed 11 points each. On the other side, USC’s Jordan Cohen scored 12 points. Despite Cohen giving USC a one-point lead in the first half, Ross hit a jumper to put the Gaels ahead for good. Saint Mary’s closed the first half with a 9-0 run, taking an 11-point lead into halftime. In the second half, Ross continued to impress with eight straight points. The Trojans struggled to find their footing, making only 4 of 23 shots after halftime. Saint Mary’s outscored USC 39-15 in the second half, securing their spot in the championship game against either Arizona State or New Mexico. USC will face the loser in the consolation game. The Gaels’ strong performance on both ends of the court has put them in a promising position as they look to maintain their undefeated streak and continue their success in the tournament.

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