LOS ANGELES (AP)—Freshman forward Taj Gibson earned his second 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.
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 24-20 halftime lead into a 46-21 rout. Lodrick Stewart and Nick Young scored nine points apiece for USC.
Larry Cox, Standford Speech, Richard Cannon and Jefferey Price each scored six points for the Delta Devils.
