Men's Basketball
    Trojans Kick Off Season with Victory
    Byron Wesley scores 17 points in 87-73 win over Coppin State.
    Dewayne Dedmon
    Dewayne Dedmon

    Nov. 10, 2012

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    LOS ANGELES (AP) - Byron Wesley scored 17 points, leading USC to an 87-73 victory over Coppin State on Friday night in the season opener for both schools. The 87 points scored were the most by a Trojan team since also scoring 87 on Jan. 23, 2010.

    Omar Oraby, who transferred to USC in September after setting a school record at Rice last season with 54 blocked shots, had 16 points and six rebounds a day after his hardship waiver petition was approved by the NCAA - making him eligible to play immediately.

    J.T. Terrell had 17 points and starting center Dewayne Dedmon grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds.

    Trojans senior point guard and captain Jio Fontan, who missed last season with a torn ligament in his left knee, finished with seven assists and 4 points.

    USC used 11 players in the first eight minutes of the game, more than they played in any game last season. Ultimately the Trojans used 15 players in the game, their most since also playing 15 on March 5, 2005.

    USC outrebounded Coppin State 44-27. USC was outrebounded in the final 18 games of the 2011-12 season.

    Freshman guard Patrick Cole scored 25 points and reserve Troy Franklin had 23 for Coppin State.

    This is the second meeting between the Eagles and USC. In 2009, USC beat the Eagles 74-43.