On Saturday night, Michigan defeated Southern California 85-74 behind a season-high 21 points and 13 rebounds from Danny Wolf.
For the Wolverines (11-3, 3-0 Big Ten Conference), Wolf recorded his sixth double-double of the season, making 9 of 12 shots and two 3-pointers. In addition, he blocked a career-high six shots and contributed seven assists.
Nimari Burnett and Tre Donaldson each scored 16 points for Michigan, with Donaldson dishing up six assists. Vladislav Goldin scored eleven points, and Roddy Gayle Jr. scored twelve.
Desmond With 19 points apiece, Claude and Wesley Yates III led the Trojans (9-5, 1-2). Claude pulled down seven more rebounds. Saint Thomas scored ten points, while Kevin Patton Jr. scored fourteen.
Michigan led 42-38 at the half thanks to 13 points from Burnett and 12 from Donaldson, who together made 7 of 8 3-pointers.
USC’s Claude made a jumper to start the second half, but Wolf scored four points and fellow 7-footer Goldin dunk and made a three-pointer to lead a 13-0 Michigan run that put them ahead 55-40 with 16 minutes left.
With 7:33 left, the Trojans came back to take a 65-63 lead thanks to a Patton layup. With 5:09 remaining, Michigan led 73-65 after Gayle scored six points in a 10-0 run. Goldin and Wolf hit back-to-back baskets in a 10-0 run to seal the victory, but USC scored six points in a row.
The last time the schools faced one another was on December 27, 1981, when the Trojans won the Holiday Classic at the L.A. Sports Arena 77-63.
Michigan will play No. 15 UCLA on Tuesday while still in Los Angeles. On Wednesday, USC will travel to play Indiana.
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