PALM SPRINGS – USC’s Thanksgiving trip to the desert produced no wins, but left the Trojans plenty to work on.

Tru Washington scored 20 points, Donovan Dent added 17 points, 11 assists and six rebounds and New Mexico defeated USC 83-73 on Friday night in the third-place match of the four-team Acrisure Classic.

Nelly Junior Joseph added 15 points for New Mexico (6-2) and Mustapha Amzil scored 10.

Dent and Washington put up 3-pointers around a fast-break layup by CJ Noland and Atiki. Ally Atiki threw down a dunk to cap a 10–0 run, making the score 57–43 with 13:14 to go and the Lobos leading by double digits until the closing seconds.

Josh Cohen scored 14 points for USC (5-3). Chibuzo Agbo had 13 points and seven rebounds, Desmond Claude had 13 points and three steals and Terrence Williams II scored 11. Saint Thomas had nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Agbo hit two 3-pointers before Cohen made a jumper to give the Trojans an 8-4 lead, but New Mexico scored the next eight points. Thomas answered with a 3-pointer and Williams made the first of two free throws to tie the score about 3 minutes later, but Braden Appelhans answered with a 3-pointer to make it 15-12 with 11 remaining: 38 to go in the first half. Lobos never trailed again.

Dent is the only player in the country to have at least 10 points and five assists in every game this season.

USC was crushed 71-36 by St. Mary’s in the opener on Thursday night.

Originally published: November 29, 2024 at 11:36 PM PST