USC Edges Boise State 70-67 in Maui Invitational

In Lahaina Civic Center on Maui, Hawaii, the USC Trojans edged out the Boise State Broncos 70-67 on Monday in a tense first-round matchup of the Maui Invitational, advancing to the semifinals with a standout performance from guard Rodney Rice.

The Trojans, now 5-0 on the season, relied on Rice's season-high 27 points, including four of USC's 11 made three-pointers on 23 attempts, to secure the victory. The game remained tight throughout, with Boise State, falling to 4-2, mounting a strong comeback in the second half after trailing 34-32 at halftime. The Broncos scored 40 of their points in the paint and kept the contest within reach by driving effectively and drawing fouls, but their struggles from beyond the arc proved costly, hitting just 5 of 25 attempts.

USC built an early nine-point lead in the first half behind Rice's 14 points, but Boise State closed strong with a 10-0 run, including their final five field goals, to narrow the gap. The second half featured multiple lead changes. USC pulled ahead 43-37 on three-pointers from Rice and forward Chad Baker-Mazara, who finished with 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Boise State responded with a three-point play and a...