Trojans pull away at f inish
Metu scores 21 points for the Trojans, who give their tournament hopes another boost.
Chimezie Metu scored 21 points and USC used a late 12-0 run to beat the Buffaloes and help NCAA chances.
USC 75 COLORADO 64
BOULDER, Colo. — Chimezie Metu scored 21 points, Jordan McLaughlin added 18 and USC beat Colorado 75-64 on Wednesday night.
Tied at 58, the Trojans (20-9, 11-5 Pac 12) pulled away on a 12-0 run in the waning minutes as they continue to make their case for the NCAA tournament.
McLaughlin had two three-pointers as part of the burst, letting out a victorious scream after swishing the second.
Metu was 10 of 16 from the field and McLaughlin was six of 10, including four of six from three-point range. USC shot 55% for the game.
Lucas Siewert led Colorado (15-13, 7-9) with 16 points and a career-high eight rebounds. McKinley Wright IV added 12 points on a night he surpassed former star Chauncey Billups for the most assists in a season by a Colorado freshman. Wright had six assists to give him 148 on the season.
The Buffaloes didn’t score a point for seven minutes, 28 seconds late in the second half as the Trojans pulled away.
The Trojans made eight straight from the field late in the first half to go up 36-29, as Metu and Usher capped off the spurt with dunks.
Siewert fueled a 14-0 run for Colorado in the second half, hitting two three-pointers and converting a threepoint play to put the Buffaloes up 52-50 with 12:27 left.
UP NEXT
Saturday at Utah, 11:30 a.m. PST, Huntsman Arena, TV: Pac-12 Networks — The Trojans ended a losing streak that had reached eight games against Utah with an 84-67 victory over the Utes on Jan. 14 at Galen Center.