The Cougars managed to hold on after faltering late to capture a victory in the first game of their southern California road trip.

After leading 66-63 with 17.1 seconds left, the Cougars (12-15, 6-9 Pac-12) held on and hit clutch free throws for a 70-66 victory over the USC Trojans. USC (10-18, 2-14 Pac-12) rallied after trailing by as much as 19 with 11 minutes to go. However, the Cougars kept their composure and held on to victory. Senior guards Dexter Kernich-Drew and DaVonte Lacy led the Cougars with 19 and 17 points, respectively.

Sophomore Josh Hawkinson tied the single-season school record with his 17th double-double on the season. He finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Hawkinson came up clutch, hitting a free throw with 6.5 seconds left to put the Cougars up 70-66 and secured the victory.

It looked as if Trojan and Cougar fans would be in for a long and sloppy game in the early going, as after the second media time out the Cougars were 0-8 from the field with the exception of Kernich-Drew going 3-3 from the three-point line. However, that would soon change for WSU after a Lacy jumper gave the Cougars a 15-14 lead with 9:43 to play that vaulted them on a 22-13 run to end the half.

WSU finished the half shooting 53 percent from the field, including an impressive 75 percent from three-point range, going 6-8. Kernich-Drew put the team on his back at the start of the half and continued to do so as the rest of his teammates got hot. Kernich-Drew finished the half with 15 points on 5-6 shooting while having a great half from three-point range.

Hawkinson and senior center Jordan Railey controlled the paint for the Cougars, combining for 10 points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots and three assists in the first half. Sophomore guard Que Johnson was 2-2 from beyond the arc contributing for the six threes.

The Cougar defense responded to Head Coach Ernie Kent’s message that the team needed to improve its defense. USC shot a lowly 33.3 percent from the field in the first half on 12-36 shooting. USC’s freshman guard Malik Marquetti jumped out to score 11 points in the first half, good enough for a season high. His 3-6 shooting from three was the key to his success.

USC wouldn’t be pushed around easily as they opened the second half on a 12-4 run in the first three minutes and 45 seconds. Kernich-Drew threw down a two-handed jam with authority to answer the run, keeping the Cougars in control. WSU then held a 46-38 lead and went on an 8-0 run on the backs of their senior leaders Lacy and Railey, who contributed a pair of thunderous dunks.

The Trojans proved their resiliency once again as they wouldn’t let the Cougars run away from this one. After WSU led 55-36, USC went on an 11-0 run of their own to get within nine of the Cougars. With just over four minutes remaining, the Cougars continued to falter as the Trojans marched back to trail 61-56.

Fortunately for Cougar fans, WSU was able to hold on late to defeat USC on the back of their free-throw shooting. The Cougars will turn their focus to the UCLA Bruins this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. You can catch the game on the Pac-12 Networks.

Reporting by William Cheshier