USC’s late 3 keys upset of No. 6 SMU

For the second straight NCAA Tournament game, USC overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half to win.

Elijah Stewart hit a late three-pointer for No. 11 seed USC as the Trojans upset sixth-seeded SMU 66-65 on Friday in the first round in Tulsa, Okla.

USC trailed SMU by 10 in the second half. The Trojans trailed Providence by 17 in the second half of their First Four game on Wednesday night before winning 75-71.

“We just had to keep fighting back,” Stewart said. “We’ve been in those positions before. So we’re kind of seasoned to it. And you just can’t stop. You just got to keep going.”

Stewart had 22 points for the Trojans (26-9), including the key three with 37 seconds to play.

USC advanced to play third-seeded Baylor in the second round Sunday.

SMU’s Shake Milton missed a floater at the buzzer that would have won it for the Mustangs (30-5), who were led by Semi Ojeleye’s 24 points and 10 rebounds. SMU was in the NCAA Tournament after being banned from postseason play a year ago for violations.

Duke 87, Troy 65:

Grayson Allen had 21 points, including five three-pointers, Jayson Tatum had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the secondseeded Blue Devils (29-7) continued their perfect postseason, blowing past the 15th-seeded Trojans (22-15) in Greenville, S.C.

South Carolina 93, Marquette 73:

Also in Greenville, Sindarius Thornwell had 29 points and 11 rebounds to help the seventh-seeded Gamecocks (23-10) get their first NCAA Tournament win in 44 years. South Carolina last won a game in the NCAAs when it topped Southwestern Louisiana 90-85 in a regional consolation game on March 17, 1973. Jujuan Johnson had 16 points to lead the Golden Eagles (19-13).

Baylor 91, N. Mexico St. 73:

In Tulsa, Al Freeman came off the bench to score 21 points, Jo Lual-Acuil scored 16 and Johnathan Motley added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the thirdseeded Bears (26-7), who were upset in the first round by Georgia State and Yale the previous two years. Ian Baker and Braxton Huggins each scored 19 points for the 14thseeded Aggies (28-6).