Boatwright helps USC pull away from Idaho 74-55

LOS ANGELES – Bennie Boatwright and Katin Reinhardt scored 17 points apiece, and Southern California pulled away in the second half for a 74-55 win over Idaho on Monday night.

Boatwright tied his career-high with five 3-pointers on seven attempts and scored 11 of his points in the second half to help USC (7-2) break open a game that was tied at halftime.

The Trojans outscored the Vandals 44-25 in the second half.

Nikola Jovanovic added 11 points and eight rebounds, and Julian Jacobs scored 11 points for USC. The Trojans made 12 3-pointers, their fifth time this season making at least 10. Reinhardt made four 3s and Jordan McLaughlin hit a pair.

Victor Sanders scored 17 points and Nahshon George had 11 for Idaho (5-5). The Vandals were just 5 of 23 from 3-point range and committed 23 turnovers.

Idaho has lost four of its last five.

The scores was tied 30-all at halftime before USC pulled away.

Reinhardt and Boatwright opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers – with Reinhardt assisting on Boatwright’s bucket – to start a 9-3 run that put USC in front for good.

Boatwright hit another 3-pointer to give them a 50-42 edge, and Jovanovic followed with a layup to give USC its first double-digit lead with just under 10 minutes to go.

Reinhardt’s third 3-pointer and a layup by Jacobs made it 64-47 with five minutes to go and USC remained ahead by double-digits the rest of the way.

The Trojans shot 53.6 percent in the second half after shooting just 39.3 percent in the first.