Colorado takes over in 2nd half to defeat short-handed USC 68-58 in Bronny James' first start
Southern California guard Kobe Johnson, bottom, recovers a loose ball as Colorado forward Cody Williams defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
BOULDER, Colo. — J'Vonne Hadley led a balanced attack with 15 points and Colorado held USC to 21 points in the second half as the Buffaloes defeated the short-handed Trojans 68-58 on Saturday night in freshman Bronny James' first start for the Trojans.
James was no factor as USC raced to a 37-24 halftime lead. His struggles continued in the second half when Hadley had 10 points and Colorado took over. James finished 0-for-7 shooting, with three shots coming from 3-point range. He added two rebounds and an assist in 25 minutes.
Cody Williams scored 13 points for the Buffaloes (12-5, 3-3 Pac-12 Conference), who ended a three-game losing streak. Tristan da Silva and Eddie Lampkin both scored 12.
Colorado improved to 10-0 at home and got its 500th victory in the CU Events Center.
Oziyah Sellers had a career-high 18 points for the Trojans (8-9, 2-4) and Kobe Johnson, DJ Rodman and Vincent Iwuchukwu all scored 10.
USC was without Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier and Joshua Morgan. Ellis (18.7 ppg) strained a hamstring a week earlier but played in the Trojans' last game. That's when Collier (15.4) suffered a hand injury that will keep him out 4 to 6 weeks. Morgan (69% shooting) missed his second game with a respiratory infection.
Colorado was up 59-55 with three minutes to go when Williams scored in the lane. Simpson drilled a key 3-pointer with 1:13 to go and Lampkin had a monster dunk at 48 seconds, when USC coach Andy Enfield picked up a technical. Williams made a free throw to finish the clinching 9-0 run.
Colorado guard J'Vonne Hadley, left, looks to pass the ball as Southern California guard Kobe Johnson, right, defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
Colorado went 5 of 15 over the last 7-plus minutes and still finished at 56% in the second half (18 of 32). The Trojans were 7 for 29 (24%) in the second half with 10 turnovers.
Sellers matched his career high in the first half with 16 points when the Trojans took a 37-24 lead. Colorado, a team that shoots just a fraction over 50%, was 9 of 29 (31%).
Sellers had four points to start a 12-0 run that was capped by Johnson's three-point play for a 27-11 lead at the 8:42 mark.
The Buffaloes had a late 9-3 surge to get within 10, but Sellers came up with five points just before halftime.
Colorado guard KJ Simpson, left, picks up the ball as Southern California guard Bronny James, front right, and forward Vincent Iwuchukwu (3) defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
Colorado scored six quick points out of halftime and turned that into a 12-2 surge, closing within 39-36 on a layup by Da Silva. The Buffaloes tied the game on a fastbreak layup by Julian Hammond III and after Kijani Wright scored for USC, Luke O'Brien put Colorado up 46-45 with a 3-pointer, the Buffs' first lead since 9-8.
Colorado stays home to face the Oregon schools, starting with the Ducks on Thursday. USC goes on its Arizona swing, starting with the No. 8 Wildcats on Wednesday.
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