Trojans top pesky Cougars

Metu scores 29 points, a career high, as USC completes first Pac-12 road sweep since 2011.

PULLMAN, Wash. — USC Coach Andy Enfield, whose Trojans doubled their conference road-win total from last season on Saturday night, acknowledged the difficulty of winning on the road in the Pac-12.

“It’s the next step for our experienced players,” said Enfield, who completed his first conference road sweep during his tenure at USC. “These are quality teams we’re beating. I’m very proud of those” wins.

Chimezie Metu scored a career-high 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and USC shot 73.9% in the second half to outlast Washington State, 86-77, on Saturday night for its first conference road sweep since 2011.

Metu finished 12 of 14 from the field. He scored 17 points in the second half, making all seven of his shots.

“Early in the season we used to come out in nonconference and we’d be a little sluggish in the second half,” Metu said. “Teams would push their lead up. We just tell ourselves not to start slow.”

Jonah Mathews had 18 points and six rebounds for USC (20-4, 7-4 Pac-12).

The teams traded momentum and the lead throughout the first half. Washington State made five of its first 11 three-point attempts, but the Trojans turned a 20-8 interior scoring advantage into a fivepoint halftime lead.

USC got up to a 10-point lead early in the second half, but Washington State stayed in it. After the Cougars took a two-point lead with 10:17 left, USC responded by scoring 15 of the next 17 points to take the lead for good.

“Our players have been down double-digits 10 or 11 times this season,” Enfield said. “They just keep focusing on the game plan and play better. We didn’t play particularly well defensively.”

Ike Iroegbu finished with 22 points for the Cougars (1112, 4-7). The Trojans’ Bennie Boatwright started and scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds. It was his second game back from a knee injury.