Boogie Ellis, USC cruise past Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. — Boogie Ellis scored 21 points and USC breezed to an 84-65 victory over Colorado on Thursday night, adding another Quadrant 1 win to their NCAA Tournament resume.

Ellis made 7 of 16 shots with two 3-pointers for the Trojans (20-8 overall, 12-5 Pac-12 Conference), who have won three straight. Kobe Johnson had 15 points and seven rebounds, while Reese Dixon-Waters added 15 points and five boards off the bench. Drew Peterson pitched in with 11 points, six rebounds and six assists. Tre White had 10 points and six rebounds.

KJ Simpson paced the Buffaloes (15-14, 7-11) with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Luke O’Brien added 12 points and five boards.

Ellis, the Pac-12’s reigning Player of the Week, scored 11 points and White and Dixon-Waters added eight apiece as the Trojans shot 63% from the floor to build a 43-30 lead at intermission. USC made 17 of 27 shots, including 6 of 11 from 3-point range. Simpson had 10 points for the Buffaloes, who shot 42% overall but made just 2 of 10 from distance.

Colorado scored the first five points of the game, but White hit a jumper to give USC a 16-14 lead with 12:26 left before halftime. The Trojans never trailed again.

Simpson sank two free throws to pull Colorado within 61-52 with 9:26 left in the game. USC answered with a 10-0 run, capped by Johnson’s three-point play and the Trojans led by 19 with 6:18 remaining.

USC shot 57% overall (33 for 48) and went 8 for 19 from behind the arc (42%). Colorado shot 36% and was just 6 for 28 from long range.

UP NEXT

USC plays at Utah on Saturday at 5 p.m. PT.

Colorado hosts No. 4 UCLA on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT.