National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
California 53, Southern California 49
When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 29, 2011
Where: Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California
Officials: # Dick Cartmell, # Mike Greenstein, # Mike Littlewood
Attendance: 9447

Jorge Gutierrez scored 13 points as California held off a late Southern Cal rally to beat the visiting Trojans 53-49 in the Pac-12 opener for both teams on Thursday.

Southern Cal (5-9) pulled within one with 45 seconds left on Maurice Jones' three straight 3-pointers and Aaron Fuller's layup, but California (11-3, 1-0) secured the win when Allen Crabbe was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws.

Jones had 17 points for the Trojans, who have lost five of their last six games. Southern Cal, which entered the game averaging a conference-worst 55.8 points, shot just 19-of-56 (33.9 percent) from the field.

California, which played without injured forward Richard Solomon for the third straight game, led 31-19 at halftime after holding Southern Cal scoreless for the final 4:46.

Crabbe and Harper Kamp scored 12 points apiece for the Golden Bears, who battled foul troubles in the second half but remained unbeaten at home at 10-0.

Dewayne Dedmon and Fuller had eight points for the Trojans, who shot just 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from the free throw line. California was 9-for-16 from the line.
Top Game Performances
 
Southern California   California
Maurice Jones 17 Scoring Jorge Gutierrez 13
Maurice Jones 4 Assists Jorge Gutierrez 7
Aaron Fuller 8 Rebounds Jorge Gutierrez 7
James Blasczyk 2 Free Throws Made Allen Crabbe 5
Maurice Jones 4 Steals Jorge Gutierrez 4
James Blasczyk 1 Blocks Allen Crabbe 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Southern California 49 33.9 4-10 7-15 7 38 3 9 16
California 53 46.7 2-6 9-16 16 25 2 6 15