Murray Hits From Long Range and Helps USC to 95-89 Victory

After showing he could play defense when he set a school record for steals in his previous game, freshman Cameron Murray demonstrated another skill Saturday.

Murray made five of nine three-point shots in USC’s 95-89 victory over Houston at Hofheinz Pavilion.

Lorenzo Orr led the Trojans with 26 points, but the play of Murray--who shot only once from inside the the three-point line--was critical in giving USC (3-3) its second consecutive victory.

In a way, it was fighting fire with fire.

Houston made four of five three-point shots in building a 27-10 lead in the first 6 1/2 minutes. The first answer came from Claude Green, who scored all 15 of his points in the first half. The Trojans used a 27-14 run to help whittle that deficit to 53-50 at halftime.

Then it was Murray’s turn.

Two free throws provided his only first-half points, but he starting shooting from long range shortly after halftime. Murray made two three-point baskets in lifting USC to a 60-57 lead with 17:33 to play.

The Trojans were never headed.

His other three-point baskets came over the next 7 1/2 minutes, helping USC to a 10-point lead.

At least one Cougar was not surprised. “I knew he could do that,” said Tommie Davis, who played in high school for Crenshaw and was on an AAU team with Murray. Davis had 10 points for Houston (1-4), which has lost four in a row.