Holder scores 20, Arizona State knocks off No. 23 USC, 74-67

TEMPE, Ariz. — Tra Holder scored 20 points, Savon Goodman added 17 and Arizona State knocked off No. 23 USC 74-67 on Friday night.

Nikola Jovanovic had 25 points and 15 rebounds for the Trojans (18-6, 8-4 Pac-12), who would have been within a half-game of first-place Oregon in the Pac-12 with a victory. Gerry Blakes added 14 for Arizona State.

The Sun Devils (14-11, 4-8) have won two conference games in a row for the first time this season.

Arizona State took the lead with a 10-2 run to start the second half and never trailed again.

Blakes and Holder sank 3s in what turned out to be a decisive surge.

The Sun Devils stretched the lead to nine but the Trojans were down just 60-57 on Julian Jacobs’ dunk with 4:58 to play. Arizona State responded with a 9-3 run, and when Holder banked in a 3-pointer with 1:49 to play, the Sun Devils led 69-60.

Both teams had their struggles. USC committed 17 turnovers, seven by Jacob, and Arizona State was 16 of 26 at the foul line.

The Trojans shot 58 percent to the Sun Devils’ 33 percent in the first 20 minutes,

A six-point spurt put the Trojans up 16-11 in the early minutes, but neither team led by more than five points in the first half.

Arizona State cut the lead to one point twice and trailed the Trojans 30-27 at the half.

TIP-INS

USC: Entering the game, all five starters averaged between 12.2 and 12.6 points per game. … Trojans lost at Arizona State for the eighth time in nine tries.

Arizona State: Arizona State outrebounded the Trojans on the offensive boards 16-9. … Entering the game, Sun Devils average 76 points per game, highest since the 2002-2003.

UP NEXT

USC: At No. 17 Arizona Sunday night.

Arizona State: Hosts UCLA Sunday night.