It Takes a While, but USC Buries Loyola

USC is hoping there won’t be many nights like Monday, when senior guard Stais Boseman was a non-factor and the Trojans trailed for most of the first half against a Loyola Marymount team far inferior to perhaps the entire Pacific 10 Conference.

But after the Trojans’ 97-78 victory before 2,168 at the Sports Arena, Coach Henry Bibby found comfort in six USC players scoring in double figures, including Rodrick Rhodes’ 24 points and 10 rebounds, as the Trojans showed some depth they will need in the Pac-10.

“Tonight we had a couple of other people step up and take it to another level,” Bibby said. “Danny [Walker] hit some big shots for us and Kenny [Sims] had a couple of jumpers that put the game away in the second half.”

Sims (13 points) and Walker (12) were asked to make the outside shots needed against the Lion zone because Boseman struggled early. USC had hoped to ride the 6-foot-4 Boseman to a quick start with 5-10 Jim Williamson guarding him.

But Boseman, who made only three of 14 shots in Saturday’s victory over Long Beach State, continued to struggle, making only two of seven in the first half.

He didn’t look to shoot in the second half, but bounced back with a breakaway dunk early and a pretty layup late to go with six-of-six shooting from the free-throw line in the final three minutes. It was probably the quietest 15 points Boseman will ever score.

“I played horrible,” he said. “I think I am forcing it, not letting the game come to me, and I am putting a lot of pressure on myself. Luckily, [Walker and Sims] stepped up big time.”

Walker made two of his three three-point shots in the first half, and Sims scored 11 in the second. With the Lions trailing only 65-58, Rhodes made two free throws and then Sims made his second of three three-pointer, followed by a 16-footer and then an assist to Gary Williams for a 74-62 lead.

“They were leaving me open and guys like Stais and Danny did a nice job of pushing the ball up and getting it to me,” Sims said.

“I think we were floating a little bit in the first half,” Rhodes said. “We were watching shots go up, but I thought we did the little things--rebounding and defense--much better in the second half.”

USC (2-0) opened the second half with a 13-7 run against the Lions (2-2) in the first five minutes to increase its lead to 56-45. Williamson and Ben Ammerman, who scored a game-high 25, cut the lead to six, but Sims’ shooting and assist put the game away.

“It wasn’t pretty but it goes in the win column,” said Bibby, whose team plays No. 14 North Carolina on Friday.