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Huskies lose Pac-10 opener

Washington's Spencer Hawes sends one home against the defense of Southern California's Rousean Cromwell, left, and Taj Gibson, right, during the first half of Thursday's game at Los Angeles. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Andrew Dalton Associated Press
Washington's Spencer Hawes sends one home against the defense of Southern California's Rousean Cromwell, left, and Taj Gibson, right, during the first half of Thursday's game at Los Angeles. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

LOS ANGELES – Nick Young scored five of his 25 points in the second overtime, Taj Gibson finished with 22, and Southern California beat No. 14 Washington 86-79 Thursday night in the Pac-10 opener for both teams.

Young shot 8 for 16 from the field and Gibson went 8 for 11 as the Trojans (11-3) knocked off a ranked team for the second straight game. They beat then-No. 8 Wichita State in Las Vegas last Friday.

Spencer Hawes scored a career-high 24 points for Washington (10-2) and made his first 3-pointer of the season at the buzzer to send the game into double overtime, but the Huskies were outscored 13-6 in the second extra period.

Washington has lost both of its road games this season, falling to Gonzaga 97-77 on Dec. 9.

In front of the largest and loudest crowd in the brief history of its new Galen Center arena, USC won its ninth straight home game. The Trojans haven’t lost at home since a season-opening loss to South Carolina.

Gabe Pruitt, who started for the first time this season for USC after sitting out most of the year because of academic problems, added 18 points and six assists for the Trojans.

Hawes made his improbable 3-pointer from the top of the key at the end of the first overtime as Washington inbounded the ball with 1 second left.

Ryan Appleby, who went 6 for 9 from behind the arc, had just missed a 3 with 5 seconds to play, seemingly ending the Huskies’ hopes.

Pruitt made a 3-pointer with the shot clock running out in the second OT that gave USC a 78-75 lead.

After a Hawes layup, Young made a 3-pointer, sank 3 of 4 free throws in the final minute and pulled down a rebound with the Trojans leading by seven that put the game away.

USC has won six of its last seven.

The young Huskies play four of their next seven on the road, including a trip across Los Angeles to face No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.

USC 86, Wash. 79 (2OT)

Washington (10-2, 0-1)—Pondexter 1-7 2-2 5, Brockman 1-5 2-3 4, Hawes 10-16 3-4 24, Oliver 3-7 0-1 7, Dentmon 4-8 0-0 9, Burmeister 1-4 0-0 3, Appleby 6-11 0-0 18, Wallace 0-0 0-0 0, Gasser 2-6 1-2 7, Nelson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 29-66 8-12 79.

Southern California (11-3, 1-0)—Young 8-16 8-10 25, Gibson 8-11 6-7 22, Wilkinson 1-2 3-4 5, Stewart 2-9 2-3 7, Pruitt 5-14 6-7 18, Hackett 0-1 0-0 0, Lewis 2-4 2-2 7, N’Diaye 0-0 0-0 0, Cromwell 0-2 2-5 2. Totals 26-59 29-38 86.

Halftime—Washington 36, Southern California 31. Regulation—Washington 64, Southern California 64. 1st Overtime—Washington 73, Southern California 73. 3-point goals—Washington 13-26 (Appleby 6-9, Gasser 2-4, Oliver 1-1, Hawes 1-1, Dentmon 1-3, Pondexter 1-3, Burmeister 1-4, Nelson 0-1), Southern California 5-14 (Pruitt 2-6, Young 1-2, Lewis 1-2, Stewart 1-3, Wilkinson 0-1). Fouled out—Brockman, Cromwell, Dentmon, Oliver, Pondexter. Rebounds—Washington 39 (Brockman 11), Southern California 38 (Gibson 10). Assists—Washington 19 (Appleby 4), Southern California 10 (Pruitt 6). Total fouls—Washington 30, Southern California 18. A—5,355