Drew Peterson's 13 Points Help USC Men's Basketball Cruise Past Montana, 76-62
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Drew Peterson scored 13 points and Southern California defeated Montana 76-62 on Saturday night, with the Trojans getting points from all 10 of their players.
Peterson joined the Trojans (2-0) this season after transferring from Rice, where he played two years. Evan Mobley followed up his 21-point, nine-rebound college debut on Wednesday with 11 points and six rebounds. Isaiah White added 10 points before fouling out.
Freshman Brandon Whitney scored 17 points — making 8 of 9 free throws — to lead the Grizzlies in their season opener. Fellow freshman Josh Bannan added 13 points before fouling out with 3:30 remaining. The Griz had seven players with at least three fouls each.
The Trojans opened the game with 32-8 run, included spurts of 7-0, 7-0 and 9-0. Isaiah Mobley made 3 of 4 free throws to cap the overall run and give USC its largest lead of the game.
It's a Dunk Fest at Galen tonight!
📺: @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/TaEjODzxHd
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) November 29, 2020
From there, the Griz outscored USC 17-12 to trail 44-25 at halftime.
The Trojans shot 71% from the floor in the first half, controlled the boards 19-6 and owned a 22-12 edge in the paint. The Griz were limited to 9-of-27 shooting from the floor.
Montana outscored USC 37-32 in the second half, but never got its deficit under double-digits.
The Trojans made just three field goals over the game's final 10 1/2 minutes, when they were 12 of 20 from the free-throw line.
Up to a career-high 13 rebounds as time winds down! https://t.co/LQ3sFTAPk8
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) November 29, 2020
BIG PICTURE
Montana is challenging itself to start the season. The Griz have upcoming trips to Georgia and Pac-12 schools Washington and Arizona before Christmas. They finished third in the Big Sky last season after winning the league title the previous two seasons.
With COVID-19 surging nationwide, the Trojans travel to the East Coast to play two games next week. The trip will be an early season test on a neutral court as well as the team's ability to remain free of the coronavirus that has already caused games to be canceled. It's their only trip outside the Pac-12 this season.
UP NEXT
USC: Travels to the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut for games against BYU on Tuesday and either UConn or Vanderbilt on Thursday as part of Bubbleville.