LOS ANGELES — A second-chance 3-pointer lifted a weight off Kobe Johnson's shoulders, and three days later, the USC forward is still soaring. Johnson missed his first four shots against the Bears, but starting with his 3-pointer with 17:36 left in the second half Wednesday, he made five of his six shots in the second half. Johnson, Ellis and Collier combined for 37 of USC's 39 first-half points as the Trojans built a four-point halftime lead. They finally got help from their teammates in the second half as DJ Rodman, who finished with nine points, hit back-to-back 3-pointers that sparked an 8-2 USC run. The energy during the sessions "has been through the roof," Johnson said, and is bleeding over to game days.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 07, 2024 03:04 UTC