Portland State defeats Southern California 76-68

LOS ANGELES (AP) Tiegbe Bamba scored 19 points and Portland State defeated Southern California 76-68 Saturday in the season opener for two teams that were meeting for the first time in 37 years.

Braxton Tucker added 16, and Tim Douglas and Bryce White had 14 each for the Vikings, who improved to 5-48 all-time against Pac-12 schools.

Jordan McLaughlin scored 19 points in his college debut for the Trojans, who briefly took a one-point lead in the second half but could never stretch it out. Coach Andy Enfield started his second season with a loss, just like last year, when USC went 11-21 and won just two Pac-12 games.

UNLV transfer Katin Reinhardt added 11 points for the Trojans, who have no seniors and 11 freshmen or sophomores on the 14-man roster.

Charlotte transfer Darion Clark scored three of the Trojans' five straight points in a run that gave them their only lead of the second half, 48-47.

The Vikings answered with seven consecutive points, highlighted by Bamba's 3-pointer and his steal and fastbreak layup that put them ahead 54-48. It was part of a dominant closing stretch that eventually saw the Vikings lead by 12.

Bamba sat out last season while recovering from an Achilles' injury after attending two junior colleges.

USC closed within one on a basket by Reinhardt with 7:16 to play. But the Vikings maintained their steady offense, going on a late 10-0 run in which Tucker and DaShaun Wiggins scored four points each.

The Vikings opened the game on a 19-12 run that produced a seven-point lead. The Trojans outscored them 11-3, including a 3-pointer by McLaughlin, to take a 23-22 lead.

But Portland State ran off 13 unanswered points, with Douglas hitting two 3-pointers, as part of a 17-9 spurt that sent the Pilots into halftime leading 39-32.

TIP INS

Portland St.: The Vikings had just four turnovers. ... Lost to USC 87-78 in the schools' first meeting on Jan. 20, 1978. ... The Vikings were 17-15 last season.

USC: The Trojans committed 23 turnovers and outshot the Vikings 53 percent to 39 percent.

UP NEXT

Portland St.: Host Willamette on Tuesday.

USC: Host Tennessee Tech on Monday.