For more on the game from a Cal perspective, check out the California Golden Blogs.
Berkeley, CA (Sports Network) – Nikola Vucevic registered a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds as the USC Trojans held on to defeat the California Golden Bears, 78-75, in Pac-10 Conference action at Haas Pavilion.
Maurice Jones came up with a team-best 22 points on 5-of-6 shooting beyond the arc for the Trojans (14-12, 6-7 Pac-10) as they recorded their second win in three tries. Alex Stepheson had a double-double of his own for the visitors with 10 points and a team-best 11 boards.
The Golden Bears (13-13, 6-8) were paced by Mark Sanders-Frison with 23 points and 11 rebounds as the team fell for the fourth straight game. Harper Kamp had a double-double as well with 16 points and 10 boards, while double-digit scorers included Jorge Gutierrez with 13 points and both Brandon Smith and Jeff Powers with 10 apiece.
Cal made a total of just six field goals in the first half, converting a mere 1-of-6 behind the three-point line, leaving the hosts with a 33-22 deficit at the break.
In the second half the Bears rebounded with 57.6 percent accuracy from the floor and 11-of-12 at the charity stripe, but it simply wasn’t enough as USC slipped by with the three-point road win.
The Trojans hit on just 16-of-26 shots at the free-throw line, but the team made up for it with an 8-of-13 effort beyond the arc on the night.