PHOENIX — Boogie Ellis scored 16 points, Drew Peterson added 14 and No. 10 Southern California overcame a shaky start to beat Georgia Tech 67-53 Saturday in the Colangelo Classic.
The Trojans (11-0) needed some time to solve Georgia Tech’s aggressive zone, relying on their defense early before pulling away from the Yellow Jackets. USC went on a big run to lead by nine at halftime and kept making shots in the second to remain undefeated.
Georgia Tech (5-5) has labored through a gauntlet of tough games, losing to Wisconsin, North Carolina and No. 19 LSU before arriving in the desert. The Yellow Jackets’ biggest issue has been scoring — 207th in Division I — and it continued against the long, athletic Trojans.
Georgia Tech had some good moments in the first half but finished 33% from the floor and 5 for 19 from the 3-point arc.
Michael Devoe led the Yellow Jackets with 25 points.
The Trojans have shown no letdown in their follow-up to last year’s Elite Eight run, locking down teams while dominating in the paint.
USC held its first 10 opponents to 61.4 points per game and 35% shooting, including 27% from 3.
The Trojans were at it again, but had all kinds of problems with Georgia Tech’s zone early, missing 12 of their first 14 shots — 1 for 6 from 3 — with four turnovers in the first seven minutes.
Then something clicked.
Working the ball better around Georgia Tech’s zone, USC hit five 3-pointers and got into the lane for a couple of close-range shots during a 23-4 run to go up 33-18.
The Yellow Jackets had their own offensive problems. They had an early 9-0 run and scored the final six points of the first half but shot 10 of 30 to trail 33-24.
The trend continued in the second half.
Georgia Tech missed 11 of its first 15 shots while USC went 9 for 13 to stretch the lead to 53-37.
The Yellow Jackets’ defense triggered a 10-0 run — USC went scoreless for nearly five minutes — to pull within 53-47, but Peterson hit a 3 and USC stretched the lead from there.
BIG PICTURE
Georgia Tech’s season-long offensive struggles continued, exacerbated by facing a long, athletic team like USC.
USC had some moments that had coach Andy Enfield throwing his arms in the air, particularly at the start, but locked down defensively and figured things out offensively.
UP NEXT
Georgia Tech hosts Georgia State on Tuesday.
USC plays Oklahoma State in the Compete 4 Cause Classic in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
