LOS ANGELES (AP)—Freshman Gabe Pruitt scored 13 points and Southern California outscored UC Irvine 33-15 to start the second half in a 90-70 season-opening victory Monday night.
Dwayne Shackleford, a junior-college transfer from Washington, D.C., rallied the Trojans late in the first half when they trailed by seven points. All seven of USC’s field goals over the final 12:49 of the half were 3-pointers, including three each by Errick Craven and Shackleford. His last one left them trailing 37-36 at the break.
With Irvine starters Ross Schraeder and Greg Ethington in foul trouble, the Trojans opened the second half with a 33-15 run to take a 69-52 lead. It was their first lead since 6:50 of the opening half.
During USC’s run, Shackleford slipped a nifty behind-the-back pass to Pruitt, who scored. Later, Pruitt converted off a teammate’s miss and scored on a fast-break layin.
Errick Craven also had 13 points—one of six Trojans in double figures for the first time since the 2003 Pac-10 tournament against Oregon. Jeff McMillan added 12 points and 12 rebounds. Shackleford added 12 points, Lodrick Stewart had 11 and Derrick Craven 10.
The Trojans improved to 7-2 in season openers under ninth-year coach Henry Bibby. They improved to 4-1 against the Anteaters, who were playing USC for the first time since 1997. Irvine is 9-26 all-time against Pac-10 teams.
Aaron Fitzgerald scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Anteaters (1-1), who had a 1-11 road record last season. Schraeder added 15 points.
Pruitt and freshman Nick Young were on the floor at the same time. Young’s 3-pointer capped the scoring for USC.
