LAS VEGAS — The USC men’s basketball team kicked off its bonus season with a blowout win.
Rashaun Agee scored 27 points and hot-shooting USC rolled to an 89-60 victory over Tulane in the first round of the College Basketball Crown on Tuesday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Trojans (17-17) move on to play Villanova in a quarterfinal on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The Wildcats (20-14) beat Colorado, 85-64, to advance in the 16-team, single-elimination postseason tournament.
Agee shot 10 for 12 from the field with three 3-pointers, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots for USC, which shot a scorching 63.6% from the field, including 9 for 18 from 3-point range. Saint Thomas added 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting, nine assists, five rebounds and three steals, while Desmond Claude had nine points, six rebounds and five assists. Reserve Clark Slajchert scored 10 points.
Asher Woods had 18 points to lead the Green Wave (19-15), who shot just 33.9% from the field and 7 for 22 from behind the arc. Rowan Brumbaugh had 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. Gregg Glenn III had 10 points and three steals and Tyler Ringgold also scored 10 points.
Both teams played without two of their normal starters. USC’s Wesley Yates III (foot) and Chibuzo Agbo (unknown) sat out, while Tulane’s Kaleb Banks and Kam Williams entered the transfer portal. Williams committed to Kentucky, but Banks hasn’t announced a destination.
The two players who moved into the starting lineup for the Green Wave – Percy Daniels and Ringgold – each picked up four fouls in the first half.
The Trojans, who held a 39-26 rebounding edge and a 50-24 advantage in points in the paint, saw their 15-point halftime lead cut to 11 before putting the game away with a 15-0 second-half burst.
Agee canned a 3-pointer with 8:07 remaining to start the run. Jalen Shelley dunked and Agee hit another 3-pointer to make it 68-49 with 6:46 left. Shelley knocked down a 3-pointer, Claude added a dunk and Thomas connected on a jumper to end it as the Trojans led 75-49 with 5:03 to play.
The Trojans started the game strong and led 22-11 on a Thomas layup with 7:54 left in the first half.
USC finished the half in style when Claude made a short shot as time expired for a 39-24 halftime advantage.
Agee had 12 points and six rebounds by halftime.
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