LOS ANGELES (AP) — Desmond Claude scored 26 points and hit back-to-back field goals to help Southern California beat UT Arlington 98-95 on Wednesday night.

Claude made a layup and shot to give USC a 94-90 lead with 19 seconds left. With Jaxon Ellingsworth’s three-pointer, UTA made it 94-93 with 12 seconds left, while Terrance Williams II and Saint Thomas made a pair of free throws each.

UTA scored four three-pointers in a 23-11 series and finished the first half of the second half ahead 69-68 with 11:54 remaining. Meanwhile, Kade Douglas scored eight points and Ellingsworth scored six points.

Williams responded with a layup and Kevin Patton Jr. added one-handed dunk We put the Trojans ahead 72-69 with 10:30 left. Neither team then had a multiple possession advantage until Claude put the Trojans up by four in the final seconds.

Claude shot 9-of-12 and made 8-of-9 free throws, along with eight assists and five rebounds. Josh Cohen scored 19 points and Williams finished the game with 18 points for USC (3-0). Wesley Yates III added 14 points.

Jaden Wells scored 27 points and Ellingsworth scored 19 points for UTA (1-2). Wells made seven 3-pointers and Ellingsworth also hit a four-pointer as the Mavericks shot 16-of-24 (67%) from long range.

USC opened with a 17-5 run and took a 51-42 lead at halftime. Cohen scored 12 points in the first half and Yates scored 10 points. For the Mavericks, Wells made six 3-pointers and scored 20 points in the first half.

This was the first meeting between the teams.

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