By JEN CONNERY
BYU Athletic Media Relations
LOS ANGELES - Despite overcoming a 17-point second-half deficit and getting a career night from sophomore Jimmy Balderson, the Cougars could not hang on against the USC Trojans, falling 87-82 Saturday night in Los Angeles.
'We played good basketball in the second half,' said BYU head coach Steve Cleveland. 'We didn't get the win, but we definitely competed and put ourselves in a position to win.
'We've just got to get the victory. There's a lot of positive things that came from this. Obviously losing leaves a sick feeling in your stomach, but we're definitely improving,' he said.
Both teams started off slow as the first bucket of the game did not come until 3:36 into the first half and the score was tied at two almost six minutes in. The nets started heating up midway through the period, giving the Trojans a tight 17-16 lead. The rest of the half was all USC as the Trojans made 11-of-12 baskets at one point and ending the half on a 10-2 run to take a 44-30 lead heading into the locker rooms.
In the second half, the Trojans (2-2) got off to a quick start, extending their lead to 17 points at 53-36 with 17:10 left in the game. But the Cougars (1-5) put together a spectacular resurgence, going on a 26-7 run, tying the game at 56 on a Mike Rose three-pointer and taking the lead for the first time since the opening minutes on two free throws from Balderson.
From there, the teams traded baskets until back-to-back threes gave USC a six-point cushion, which the Trojans quickly pushed to 12 to cap a 16-2 spurt. The Cougars responded with a 12-2 run of their own, sparked by Balderson, to get within two at 81-79 with just 1:15 to play.
Rose and Balderson were each unable to connect on three-point attempts in the closing minute. Things unraveled for BYU from there with a Cougar turnover being followed by an intentional foul against Derek Dawes, which gave the Trojans two free throws and the ball, which USC converted to go up 87-79 with just eight seconds left in the game. Mike Hall drained a three-pointer as time expired to leave BYU with the 87-82 loss.
Balderson, playing in just his second game of the season after coming out of a planned redshirt year, lit up the scoreboard with a career-high 22 points, including five three-pointers, while Hall added 13 points along with Rose, who scored 13 on four three-pointers and a free throw. Dawes and starter Garner Meads, who led the Cougars with eight rebounds, each posted 10 points. Point guard Terrry Nashif dished out a career-high 10 assists off the bench.
'This has been the craziest week of my life,' Balderson said. 'Last week I'm planning out my lifting schedule and then coach calls me in and all of a sudden I'm playing again. I'm much happier getting to play. Any basketball player doesn't like to sit and watch. I feel more confident and smarter than I did my freshman year. I'm ready to play and score some points.'