No. 12 Arizona turns away short-handed USC

Caleb Love scored a team-high 20 points and Keshad Johnson had a double-double as No. 12 Arizona defeated short-handed Southern California 82-67 on Wednesday night in Tucson, Ariz.

Love made 5 of 12 3-pointers for Arizona (13-4, 4-2 Pac-12), which never trailed and led by as many as 19 points in the second half. Johnson had 10 points and 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

USC (8-10, 2-5) closed within 77-67 with 2:08 to go, but Arizona's Pelle Larsson delivered a dagger with a 3-pointer on the next possession. DJ Rodman scored 16 points and had seven rebounds for the Trojans, who were missing their starting backcourt and lost their third consecutive game.

USC freshman Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, made his second career start and had perhaps his best game.

He entered the night having shot 0 of 14 from the field in the previous three games, but he hit a midrange floater on his first shot attempt to ignite a solid effort — 11 points and career-highs in assists (six) and rebounds (five). He also committed five turnovers in 30 minutes.

Larsson scored 13 for Arizona, and Kylan Boswell added 11 points. Oumar Ballo pulled down 13 rebounds to go with eight points.

USC was without point guard Isaiah Collier (hand), who could be out for about another month, while leading scorer Boogie Ellis (hamstring) missed his second consecutive game. Forward Joshua Morgan returned after missing two games due to illness, but he went scoreless with four assists in 12 minutes off the bench.

Arizona opened on a 7-0 run, led 17-6 and seemed ready for an early knockout. But the Trojans slowed down the Wildcats with a zone defense — Arizona missed 10 consecutive shots at one point — and climbed back into the game, pulling within 31-28 with 5:14 to go in the half.

A late 7-0 run, though, restored a double-digit lead for Arizona, which led 45-35 at the break.

—Field Level Media