The Trojans (5-1) are the winners of the first Anaheim Classic Tournament after upsetting 19th-ranked Southern Illinois 70-45 on Sunday night at the Anaheim Convention Center. USC dominated on both ends of the floor in putting together its best and most complete game of the season. They shot nearly 60% from the field against what was billed as one of the top defensive teams in the nation, and limited the Salukis (3-1) to under 33% shooting.

The only aspect of the game more surprising than the outcome was the fact that Trojan stars OJ Mayo and Taj Gibson started the game on the bench, which coach Tim Floyd claimed was a motivational tool to get some of USC’s other players (such as Keith Wilkinson and Angelo Johnson) some extra minutes, rather than a disciplinary action. The Salukis took advantage of their absence to build a quick five-point lead, but USC quickly turned things around once they entered the game, and built a bigger and bigger cushion as the game wore on. For the Trojans, it was a coming out party for freshman forward Davon Jefferson, who scored 20 points off the bench in just his third career game. Sophomore Dwight Lewis also had one of the best games of his career with 14 points, Mayo added 13 points (and was named the tournament’s MVP) and Daniel Hackett recorded 10 assists.

USC will host Oklahoma on Thursday for just its second home game of the season. Fourth-ranked Kansas follows at Galen on Sunday morning.

Davon Jefferson scores 18, USC routs No. 19 Southern Illinois 70-45 (AP via Yahoo!)
Jefferson and Mayo cap USC’s 70-45 victory (LA Times)
USC wins championship with 70-45 victory (OC Register)