Rodney Rice scored 32 points and dished out nine assists, while Alijah Arenas contributed 30 points as No. 21 Southern California defeated Wichita State 93-86 on Sunday night in the first game of the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic.
The Trojans improved to a record of 2-0, overcoming a rough shooting night from beyond the arc, making only two three-pointers. USC capitalized on its success at the free-throw line and a significant edge in turnovers to secure the victory.
Wichita State, now 1-1, was led by Michael Gray Jr., who tallied 18 points. Jordan Frison and William Berg added 17 points each for the Shockers.
The first half ended with Wichita State holding a slight lead at 45-43, having successfully converted seven of its first twelve attempts from three-point range. The Shockers built an 11-point advantage late in the half before USC rallied to tie the game at 43.
The teams exchanged baskets throughout the second half until Arenas scored three consecutive baskets, including a jumper after a turnover by Wichita State, allowing USC to take a 75-69 lead with 6:22 remaining.
Although Wichita State fought back, narrowing the gap to 86-83 after a layup by Frison with 58 seconds left, Rice responded with two crucial free throws. The Shockers struggled to find their mark on late three-point attempts, sealing their fate.
Adoni Ratliff rounded out USC’s strong performance with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Next up for Southern California is a matchup against California on Wednesday night, while Wichita State will host Friends University the same evening.
