USC keeps rolling behind freshman Bennie Boatwright in 68-56 win over Yale

For a second consecutive game, the USC men’s basketball team relied on the offensive prowess of freshman forward Bennie Boatwright and a second-half explosion from junior guard Katin Reinhardt to secure a double-digit victory at home.

The Trojans (8-2) were dominant defensively in the first half and played Yale to a draw for the final 20 minutes en route to a 68-56 win.

Boatwright, coming off a 17-point performance against Idaho, again was aggressive shooting the ball, making three of his first four attempts. He had 14 points by halftime and ended up with 17, which led the Trojans.

“Bennie played a solid game,” USC Coach Andy Enfield said. “He didn’t force things.”

Reinhardt, meanwhile, had all 14 of his points in the second half, including a pair of three-point plays that helped keep the Bulldogs (5-5) from mustering a serious comeback.

The contributions from Boatwright and Reinhardt were key because the Trojans were without junior guard Julian Jacobs, who sat out because of tendinitis in his Achilles’ tendon. Jacobs leads the team in assists (5.3 per game) and before Sunday was second in scoring (12.2 points) and rebounding (6.1).

“We were hoping he could play today, but we’re not going to risk an injury,” Enfield said. “If players aren’t 100%, I don’t like to play them. It’s just not worth it.”

Sophomore guard Jordan McLaughlin played all but four minutes in Jacobs’ absence, which Enfield admitted wasn’t his preferred game plan. But McLaughlin showed no signs of fatigue, with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

“We felt the pressure, but coach asked for everyone to pick it up, not just me,” McLaughlin said.

Junior forward Darion Clark, whose minutes have fluctuated all season, added seven points and nine rebounds, prompting Enfield to anoint him as the team’s “best rebounder.” Clark ended the first half with an emphatic block of Yale forward Brandon Sherrod’s dunk attempt, and afterward was blunt about his role as a hustle player.

“We’ve got a lot of pieces to this team, so I’ve got to find ways to stay on the floor,” Clark said. “I’m not as good in other areas of the game as they are.”

Yale’s Makai Mason started off the game with a three-pointer and hit another one for Yale’s first basket of the second half. He had 18 points, but was one of the only sources of consistency for the Bulldogs, who shot nine for 27 in the first half, including just one for eight from beyond the arc. They improved to 23 for 55 (41.8%) by the game’s conclusion, but couldn’t get closer than five points with 15:45 remaining.

The Trojans are 6-0 at home and off to their best start since 2006. In an otherwise impressive all-around effort, one item of concern for USC is the lack of offense from sophomore guard Elijah Stewart, who was scoreless Sunday and has two points in his last two games. Enfield, however, isn’t worried as long as his team continues to get baskets from multiple sources.

“We have six players averaging double figures, or close to it,” Enfield said. “He just has to play within the flow of the offense and when it’s his time, step up and make shots.”

UP NEXT

Thursday vs. Cal Poly, 7 p.m., Galen Center. TV: Pac-12 Networks — In their last matchup four years ago, the Trojans lost to the Mustangs, 42-36. After a couple of close early season losses to UNLV and UCLA, Cal Poly (5-3) has won five of its last six games.

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