USC Basketball vs. Pepperdine: Trojans Romp, Off To Best Start Since 1971
![Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans guard Jordan McLaughlin (11) scores over Pepperdine Waves guard Jonathan Allen (23) in the first half of the game at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans guard Jordan McLaughlin (11) scores over Pepperdine Waves guard Jonathan Allen (23) in the first half of the game at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Freignoftroy-com-2Ffiles-2F2016-2F12-2F9743222-jordan-mclaughlin-ncaa-basketball-pepperdine-southern-california-850x560-b028e02928ff80fa1fc6bf19b54f7390.jpg)
USC basketball is off to their best start since 1971 after dispatching Pepperdine 93-67 on Sunday night at the Galen Center.
The lowdown: Pepperdine hit the first basket, but it didn’t take long for the Trojans to take control of the game on an 11-0 run, including a three-point drive from Elijah Stewart.
With back-to-back three pointers, Jonah Matthews helped extend USC’s lead to 20-6 by the 12 minute mark.
Stewart followed Matthews’ example, hitting his own pair of triples as the Trojans built their advantage with 28-15.
With seven minutes in the half, Chimezie Metu supplied the highlight of the night — and perhaps the season — climbing the ladder to slam a put back with force, making USC’s lead 32-17.
Another putback slam from Metu and an emphatic block from Stewart drove the Trojans into halftime at 48-30.
Stewart and Shaqquan Aaron opened the second half with three pointers but it was Jordan McLaughlin’s long distance effort which pushed the Trojans to a 30-point lead nearing the midway point of the second half.
From there, USC coasted to the finish line, winning 93-67
The takeaway: In their second game without Bennie Boatwright, the Trojans continued their winning ways, riding Stewart’s hot hand to an easy victory.
The aforementioned guard had 26 points, hitting 7-of-12 three pointers, but it wasn’t scoring alone that made his standout performance. Stewart had four blocks on the night as well.
Underneath the basket, Metu was a force, notching his third double-double of the young season.
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Meanwhile, McLaughlin was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field on a night when everything seemed to go down for the Trojans.
At 9-0, USC has their best start to a season since 1971.
Player of the game: Elijah Stewart; 26 points, 9-of-15 FG, 7-of-12 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, four blocks
Stat of the game: USC set a program record with 14 blocks.
Next on tap: The Trojans will take on…the Trojans, facing Troy on Saturday Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Galn Center.