Nov. 15, 2008

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- No. 18 USC pulled away from a 35-29 halftime lead by opening the second half with a 21-5 run and defeated UC Irvine, 78-55, in the season opener for both teams at the Galen Center Saturday afternoon.

Dwight Lewis had 18 points and seven rebounds while Taj Gibson added 17 points and six boards for the Trojans, who shot 60 percent from the field in the second half to UCI's 34.5 percent.

Junior guard Darren Moore led the `Eaters with 16 points, and added five rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Brett Lauer scored 12 points, hitting 3 of 5 threes, while junior center Zack Atkinson had 10 points and seven boards.

After USC scored the first eight points of the game, UCI fought back and took a 22-20 lead with 5:16 left in the opening half on a tip-in by Moore.

A three-pointer by Donte Smith started a 15-7 streak by the Trojans to end the first 20 minutes.

USC scored the first three baskets of the second half to start its run, which was culminated by a layup from Marcus Simmons for a 56-34 lead with 12:18 remaining.

UCI closed the margin to 58-44 on a jumper from Patrick Rembert with 7:16 left but the Trojans scored the next 13 points to take command of the game.

The Anteaters are home for a pair of games this coming week, facing Eastern Washington Wednesday and Oregon Friday in 7:05 p.m. starts at the Bren Events Center.