USC
Mississippi Valley State
USC Overpowers Mississippi Valley State, 63-39
November 28, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2006
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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Freshman forward Taj Gibson earned his third career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds as Southern California used its height advantage to beat Mississippi Valley State 63-39 on Tuesday.
The Trojans (4-1) kept the Delta Devils (1-5) on the perimeter for much of the game, forcing them to shoot 24 percent from the field including 8-of-22 from beyond the 3-point line. USC has held all five opponents this season to under 40 percent shooting from the field.
Gibson scored 12 points in the first half, including the first six in a decisive 12-0 run that gave USC a 24-9 lead. The Trojans shot 48 percent from the field, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range and 13-of-15 on free throws.
Gibson was the game's only player in double figures.
In the second half, Mississippi Valley scored just one point in the first 8:54 while USC turned a 34-20 halftime lead into a 46-21 rout. Lodrick Stewart and Nick Young scored nine points apiece for USC. Young had his Pac-10-leading streak of reaching double figures in points snapped at 16 games.
Larry Cox, Standford Speech, Richard Cannon and Jefferey Price each scored six points for the Delta Devils.
