USC falls to Monmouth, 83-73, at tournament

Justin Robinson had a record-breaking tournament, scoring an AdvoCare Invitational record 77 points over three games.

Robinson made five three-point baskets and scored 27 points Sunday to help Monmouth beat USC, 83-73, in the third-place game.

“He’s a tremendous offensive player,” USC Coach Andy Enfield said of Robinson.

Nikola Jovanovic made two free throws to cut USC’s deficit to 73-70, but Robinson responded with a three-point basket to put Monmouth ahead, 76-70, with 55 seconds left. Micah Seaborn made it an 11-point lead with a three-point play with 28 seconds left.

Julian Jacobs led USC (5-2) with 19 points, and Bennie Boatwright had 16 points and nine rebounds.

“We missed over 10 layups, we missed free throws, we were three for 21 from the three-point line and most of those looks were just clean looks,” Enfield said. “We could not put the ball in the basket today.”

USC had defeated the Hawks, 101-90, Nov. 16.

Seaborn finished with 20 points, and Deon Jones had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Monmouth (4-2).

Robinson had 10 points in the first half to help Monmouth rally from a six-point deficit to go up, 38-29, at halftime.

Seaborn made a three-pointer as Monmouth extended its lead to 51-37 early in the second half.

After trailing by 14 points, USC cut the deficit to 68-64 on Jacobs’ layup with four minutes to go. But Collin Stewart answered with a three-point basket and Jones’ dunk with 1:41 left made it 73-68.

USC next

Thursday at UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.. TV: Pac-12 Networks; Radio: 710. After two consecutive losses, the Trojans (5-2) will look to rebound against the Gauchos (2-3), whose three losses have come against Pac-12 Conference opponents California, Oregon State and Arizona State.

--Zach Helfand