DAYTON, OH – Despite trailing by as many as seventeen points, a resilient Trojan squad used a string of second-half runs to erase the deficit and pull ahead for good with under seven minutes to play, as USC defeated Providence 75-71 in a Dayton First Four battle and avenged their First Round loss from last year.
Sophomore Bennie Boatwright led the Trojan attack with 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field, and Jordan McLaughlin added 18 points and hauled in 10 boards for a double-double.
Emmitt Holt paced the Friars with 18 points, while Jalen Lindsey poured in 17 from 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.
Ted Emrich and Austin Croshere called the action on Westwood One Sports.