Chad Baker-Mazara scores career-high 26 to lead Southern Cal to 114-83 victory over Manhattan

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chad Baker-Mazara scored 20 of his career-high 26 points in the first half to lead seven Southern California players in double figures and start the Trojans off and running to a 114-83 victory over Manhattan on Sunday.

Baker-Mazara made 7 of 13 shots, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, and all nine of his free throws to help the Trojans (2-0) score more points than they've had since 1998. He added seven rebounds.

Ezra Ausar scored 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting for USC and Rodney Rice pitched in with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. Jacob Cofie totaled 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Terrence Williams II added 10 points and seven boards. Reserves Jaden Brownell and Jordan Marsh scored 13 and 11, respectively.

Southern Cal jumped out to a 7-2 lead before Anthony Isaac's layup capped a 5-0 spurt for Manhattan to tie it. From there neither team had a two-possession lead until Baker-Mazara hit a 3-pointer to put USC up 28-23 with 7:48 left before halftime. The Trojans sank four of their next five shots to push their advantage to double digits and upped it to 55-37 at the break.

USC led by as many as 35 in the second half and topped the century mark on a layup by Brownell with 6:16 left to play.

Junior guard Jaden Winston scored a career-high 29 to pace the Jaspers (1-1). The fifth-year senior guard made 9 of 14 shots with three 3-pointers while going 8 for 8 at the foul line. Terrance Jones had 18 points and fellow reserve Isaac scored 16.

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