BERKELEY (AP) – Reese Dixon-Waters scored 10 of his career-high 17 points in a 20-0 run in the second half that lifted Southern California to a 66-51 win over California in the Pac-12 Conference opener Wednesday night.
 
The Golden Bears (0-8) pulled within three, 46-43, with a 12-5 run over a three-minute span midway through the second half before Dixon-Waters made a pair of free throws to start the Trojans' barrage. He added a three-point play and a 3-pointer 28 seconds apart as the run reached 10 and the lead was 56-43 at the 7:21 mark.
 
Joshua Morgan capped the run with a jumper before Devin Askew scored for the Bears to end a drought of 10 minutes. Cal missed 11-straight shots during the cold spell and finished 18-for-65 shooting (27.7 percent) on the night.
 
Morgan and Drew Peterson both added 14 points for the Trojans (5-3). Morgan also contributed to Cal's shooting problems with six blocks.
 
Askew had a career-high 23 points for the Bears, who did not get a point from their bench. Lars Thiemann added 10 points and six rebounds in his seventh double-figure scoring effort of the season, while Grant Newell finished with six points, five rebounds and three steals.
 
Cal was able to force nine first-half turnovers by the Trojans and trailed by just five, 27-22, at the intermission. USC had a 10-0 run that made the score 14-2 at the midpoint of the first half. Cal missed its first eight shots and was 1 for 18. After making three quick buckets, the Bears missed another eight straight. But the Trojans also missed eight straight and finished the half by making just one of 11 shots.
 
Cal was back in the game because of free throws, going 7 of 8 in the last 3 1/2 minutes.
 
UP NEXT
Cal gets back on the road this weekend for a Pac-12 contest at No. 4 Arizona. Tipoff from the McKale Center in Tucson is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT on Sunday, Dec. 4 and the game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network with Ted Robinson and Matt Muehlebach on the call.
 
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