New Mexico sends USC to last-place finish in Palm Desert

Field Level Media|published: Sat 30th November, 02:32 2024

New Mexico's head coach Richard Pitino watches his team during the first round game between Clemson University and University of New Mexico in the 2024 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Tru Washington scored 20 points to help New Mexico post an 83-73 victory over Southern California on Friday night in the third-place game of the Acrisure Classic at Palm Desert, Calif.

Donovan Dent recorded 17 points and 11 assists for his third double-double of the season and also collected six rebounds for the Lobos (6-2). Nelly Junior Joseph had 15 points and six rebounds and Mustapha Amzil added 10 points.

Josh Cohen scored 14 points for the Trojans (5-3), who went 0-2 in the tournament. USC was drubbed 71-36 by Saint Mary's on Thursday.

Chibuzo Agbo registered 13 points and seven rebounds before fouling out and Desmond Claude had 13 points and three steals for USC. Terrance Williams II added 11 points.

New Mexico lost 85-82 to Arizona State on Thursday.

The Lobos shot 51.7 percent from the field against USC and were 7 of 21 from 3-point range.

The Trojans made 49.1 percent of their attempts and were 7 of 17 from behind the arc.

USC trailed by 13 in the first half and nine at halftime before moving within 47-43 on a basket by Saint Thomas with 16:19 left in the contest.

The Lobos responded with a 14-2 burst. Dent began the run with a 3-pointer and he capped it with a layup as New Mexico took a 61-45 advantage with 11:46 left in the contest.

A three-point play by Braden Appelhans pushed the lead to 70-52 with 8:33 remaining. Appelhans later canned a trey to make it 75-55 with 5:58 left.

The Trojans answered with nine straight points to trim their deficit to 11 with 3:04 left. But Azmil scored on a layup 26 seconds later to halt the USC momentum and New Mexico closed it out.

Washington scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first half as the Lobos built a 39-30 lead. Cohen had 10 points in the half for the Trojans.

Washington had seven points during a 9-1 run that saw New Mexico take a 28-18 advantage with 6:29 to go before the break.

Azmil later hit a 3-pointer and a jumper consecutively to give the Lobos a 35-22 lead with 3:10 remaining in the half.

--Field Level Media

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