USC Goes Cold, Loses to Lamar : College basketball: Trojans fall to 3-4 after shooting drops from 52% in first half to 41% in second half.

BEAUMONT, Tex. — Ron Coleman made three free throws in the final 19 seconds Sunday to give Lamar an 80-78 victory over USC.

The sophomore guard led Lamar (3-1) with 23 points.

The Trojans built a 43-40 halftime lead by connecting on 17 of 33 shots from the floor, 52% compared to Lamar’s 43% shooting.

But Lamar’s shooting improved slightly after intermission as the Cardinals made 46% of their shots in the second half.

More importantly, the Cardinals became more selective in their shots. After making two of 11 three-point shots before the half, the Cardinals made four of seven in the second half.

USC (3-4) made 41% of its second-half shots. The Trojans made four of nine three-point shots.

Terry Johnson gave the Cardinals the lead for good at 75-72 with a three-point shot from the corner with 1:31 to play.

USC’s Cameron Murray, a freshman guard, had a chance to send the game into overtime but missed from the top of the key at the buzzer.

Murray led USC with 24 points and Lorenzo Orr had 20.