Goodwin Scores 24, Leads No. 17 USC Past Washington, 79-69
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chevez Goodwin scored 16 of his 24 points in the first half and No. 17 Southern California defeated Washington 79-69 on Thursday night.
Drew Peterson had 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds, Isaiah Mobley added 12 points, and the Trojans (22-4, 11-4 Pac-12) won for the fourth time in five games.
Terrell Brown Jr. scored 23 points and Emmitt Matthews Jr. added 20 as the the Huskies (13-11, 8-6) lost by double digits again in the second of three straight games against ranked opponents.
USC led by as many as 23 points in the second half before a sloppy stretch allowed Washington to score 11 straight and cut it deficit to 64-52 with 9:53 left. The final two points came on free throws by Brown after the Trojans received a technical foul for trying to call a timeout when they didn't have any remaining.
But Mobley, who returned after breaking his nose against Arizona on Feb. 5 and missing the past two games with concussion-like symptoms, and Goodwin made consecutive baskets to end the Huskies' momentum.
USC closed the first with a 14-2 run to take a lead 42-25 at the break. Peterson had five points, Isaiah White made four free throws, and Goodwin hit a jumper as the Trojans scored the final 11 points.
Goodwin became the focal point for USC on offense after some initial struggles against Washington's 2-3 zone, attacking the paint to make 8 of 10 shots in the first.
Matthews had 10 points and five rebounds for the Huskies, who struggled in their half-court offense once the Trojans shut down some early success in transition.
BIG PICTURE
Washington: The Huskies are better after last season's debacle but aren't anywhere near the best teams in the Pac-12. The 10-point loss to the Trojans followed a 92-68 loss at the hands of the No. 3 Wildcats on Saturday. With a visit to No. 13 UCLA on deck, it won't get any easier for Washington.
USC: If the Trojans can get big showings from Mobley, who added eight assists playing with a mask, and Peterson at the same time in March, they have as high a ceiling as any team in the top-heavy Pac-12.
(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)