PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) Freshman Dylan Harper scored 25 points to guide Rutgers to a 95-85 victory over Southern California on Sunday night.
Harper made 9 of 13 shots with four 3-pointers and all three of his free throws for the Scarlet Knights (14-14, 7-10 Big Ten Conference), who have won two straight following a three-game slide. He added nine assists.
Ace Bailey had 14 points for Rutgers. Jamichael Davis went 8 for 8 at the foul line and scored 13 off the bench. Lathan Sommerville and reserve Tyson Acuff both scored 10.
Desmond Claude scored 30 on 12-for-21 shooting to lead the Trojans (14-13, 6-10), who have lost three in a row and five of six. Wesley Yates III had 23 points and made three 3-pointers.
Claude scored six to help USC jump out to a 15-8 lead. Harper had a three-point play and a 3-pointer and Zach Martini connected from beyond the arc to cap a 9-2 spurt and pull Rutgers even at 17. By the time the first half ended, there were six lead changes and nine ties with Rutgers up 44-39. Harper and Yates both had 16 points at the intermission.
Dylan Grant sank a jumper to give Rutgers the game’s first double-digit lead at 50-40 less than two minutes into the second half. The Scarlet Knights took their largest lead at 82-65 on two free throws by Jeremiah Williams with 4:48 remaining. Claude scored four and Yates hit a 3-pinter in an 13-4 run to get the Trojans within 91-85 with 15 seconds left. Jamichael Davis went 4 for 4 at the foul line from there to wrap up the win.
USC will host Ohio State on Wednesday. Rutgers plays at No. 12 Michigan on Thursday.
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| STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| D. Claude | 30 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| W. Yates III | 23 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| S. Thomas | 8 | 6 | 2 | 5 |
| J. Cohen | 6 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| C. Agbo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| BENCH | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| R. Agee | 8 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
| C. Slajchert | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| K. Patton Jr. | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| M. Knowling | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Shelley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Pope | – | – | – | – |
| H. Hornery | – | – | – | – |
| J. Plough | – | – | – | – |
| J. Goorin | – | – | – | – |
| A. Dorian | – | – | – | – |
| B. Burden | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 85 | 30 | 10 | 21 |
| STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| D. Harper | 25 | 2 | 9 | 2 |
| A. Bailey | 14 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| L. Sommerville | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| J. Williams | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| D. Grant | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| BENCH | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| J. Davis | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| T. Acuff | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| B. Dortch | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Z. Martini | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Derkack | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Ogbole | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Hayes IV | – | – | – | – |
| M. Fradkin | – | – | – | – |
| N. Freisthler | – | – | – | – |
| P. Noble | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 95 | 25 | 16 | 15 |