LOS ANGELES (AP) – Freshman Cormac Ryan scored a career-high 18 points on six threes all in the second half as Stanford made a second-half surge, but USC outlasted the Cardinal in the end, 77-66.
USC's Nick Rakocevic scored 23 points and Bennie Boatwright added 22 to lead the Trojans (9-6, 2-0 Pac-12) in the win. Stanford (7-7, 0-2) erased a 13-point first-half deficit, opening the second half strong take a brief lead.
USC scored the first 13 points and didn't trail until KZ Okpala's 3-pointer gave Stanford a 49-46 lead with 12:45 left. It remained close until USC pulled away with an 11-0 run for a 68-55 lead when Rakocevic made 1 of 2 free throws with 2:22 remaining.
Rakocevic collected 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season.
Daejon Davis had 14 points and Okpala 12 for the Cardinal.
USC led by as many as 13 points before taking a 31-21 lead into the half. Stanford caught fire and went on a 10-2 run in the second half to cut the lead to 35-31. A Bryce Willis dunk tied the game at 43.
USC's Jonah Mathews left the court with what appeared to be an ankle injury but quickly returned. For the brief period he was gone, USC was down to six healthy scholarship players.
Stanford returns to the Bay Area, where the Cardinal will host Arizona on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Maples Pavilion. Wednesday's contest will be televised on Pac-12 Networks and air live on the Stanford Cardinal Sports Network.
