The lowdown:
The Trojans and Gauchos opened the game trading baskets, including a dunk off the inbounds for Chimezie Metu and a corner three from Jonah Mathews, as USC led 9-7 after five minutes.
Freshman guard Jordan Usher’s triple from the same spot, launching a 6-0 run, helped the Trojans build a 17-10 lead.
USC found their stroke from distance midway through the half. Elijah Stewart, Mathews and Metu each knocked one down from beyond the arc to jump ahead 32-19.
However, UCSB would not be downed easily. After Metu missed both ends of a trip to the free throw line, Marcus Jackson hit a three to pull the Gauchos back within seven points at 36-29.