USC basketball: Trojans lead UC Riverside, 32-24, at halftime

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

USC is playing its first game without 7-foot sophomore Dewayne Dedmon, who is expected to be out for four to six weeks because of a stress injury in his right foot, but the Trojans don’t appear to be missing him against UC Riverside.

USC leads the Highlanders, 32-24, at halftime and the Trojans are shooting 56% (15 of 27) from the floor. Seven USC players have scored, led by Garrett Jackson’s eight points.

Riverside, meanwhile, is shooting 45% (nine of 20) and is led by Phil Martin’s 11 points.

After trailing 10-2, USC used a 22-7 run to take a 24-17 lead with 7 minutes 38 seconds left in the first half.

USC then closed the half on an 8-2 run.

Riverside (2-4) is 16-0 in the last three seasons against nonconference foes in its Student Recreation Center, which is full to its 2,753 capacity tonight and is certainly rocking.

Former USC coach Tim Floyd scheduled this game against Riverside, which is coached by Jim Woolridge, Floyd’s college teammate at Louisiana Tech and his assistant when Floyd coached the Chicago Bulls.

ALSO:

Chris Dufresne: BCS motto falls way short this weekend

UCLA players carry Rick Neuheisel off the field

Bill Dwyre: Tiger Woods is optimistic, but a window of opportunity is closing

-- Baxter Holmes