MBB falls at USC, 78-73

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Falls At USC, 78-73

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Bennie Boatwright scored a season-high 17 points and De'Anthony Melton added 15 to lead Southern California to a 78-73 victory over SMU on Friday night.

Boatwright made 4-of-7 3-pointers and Jonah Matthews scored 14 points for the Trojans.

USC (5-0) improved to 5-1 all-time against the Mustangs and shot 49.1 percent from the field.

Melton scored nine points during a 19-4 run -- capped by Melton's 3 -- that gave USC a 51-41 lead with 10:56 to play.

SMU cut the score to 74-68 with 1:15 to play following a steal and layup by Shake Milton but would get no closer.

Ben Moore led SMU with 14 points. Semi Ojeleye added 13 while Milton and Sterling Brown each scored 12.

The Trojans took a 19-14 lead following a 3-pointer by Shaqquan Aaron at the 9:39 mark. The Mustangs battled back and took a 22-21 lead before USC took a 28-27 lead into the break.

The Mustangs are back on the road for their next game on Wednesday, Nov. 30 when they play at Boise State. Tip-off is slated for 8:00 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on the Mountain West Network.

SMU Postgame Notes - November 25, 2016
USC, 78 (5-0), SMU, 73 (4-2)
Galen Center– Los Angeles, Calif.

NEXT GAME
At Boise State – Wednesday, November 30 – Time 8 CT/7 MT – Taco Bell Arena– Boise, Idaho
Radio: KAAM 770 AM
TV: Mountain West Network

SMU NOTES
SMU Starting Five: Ben Moore (00), Shake Milton (1),Sterling Brown (3), Jarrey Foster (10), Semi Ojeleye (33)
USC Starting Five: Shaqquan Aaron (00), Chimezie Metu (4), Jordan McLaughlin (11), Bennie Boatwright (25), Elijah Stewart (30)

Head Coach Tim Jankovich:
· 170-123 as NCAA head coach
· SMU is 13-2 under Tim Jankovich as head coach

SMU is 56-14 overall since the 2014-15 season
· The Mustangs are 24-5 in non-conference games during that span

SMU will play in the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis; Nov. 22-24, 2017
· Joins Villanova, Tennessee, Arizona, Purdue, Western Kentucky, NC State and Northern Iowa

SERIES NOTES
SMU is 1-5 all-time against USC

OFFENSIVE NOTES

SMU had four players score 10+ points (Shake Milton, 12; Sterling Brown, 12; Semi Ojeleye, 13, Ben Moore, 14)
· Four have scored 10+ in 5-of-6 games this season

SMU had 38 points in the paint, compared to USC, 24
· The Ponies have outscored 114 of 139 opponents in the paint since the start of 2012-13.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
SMU outrebounded USC, 39-35
· SMU has outrebounded 104 of 139 opponents since the start of 2012-13
· Has outrebounded opponents in all 6 games; By a margin of 10+ in 4

SMU INDIVIDUAL NOTES
#33 Semi Ojeleye, Jr. F (13 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast) – 2K Classic All-Tournament Team
· Second career double-double (2nd this season)
· 13 points (5-11 FG, 2-3 3FG, 1-3 FT); all points in 2nd half
· 7th career double-digit scoring performance (6th this season)

#3 Sterling Brown, Sr. G (12 points, 6 reb. 2 blocks, 2 steals)
· 12 points (6-14 FG)
· 30th career double-digit scoring performance (5th of the season)
· 2 blocks, 2 steals; both season highs

#00 Ben Moore, Sr. F (14 pts, 6 rebs, 2 ast) - AAC preseason all-conference first team
· 14 points (4-8 FG, 6-6 FT)
· 46th career double-digit scoring performance (4th of the season)
· Moves to 28th on SMU’s career rebounds list (542)

#1 Shake Milton, So. G (12 points, 5 reb, 4 ast, 4 steals)
· 12 points (3-10 FG, 2-5 3FG, 4-6 FT)
· 21st career double-digit scoring performance (4th this season)
· 4 steals; Ties career high; season high

#13 Harry Froling, Fr. F (7 points, 2 reb)
· 7 points; Career high
· FG attempts, FG makes both career highs
· 18 minutes; tied career high