The game was billed as the battle of two of the top star freshmen, Derrick Rose of Memphis and OJ Mayo of Southern California. Neither one lived up to the hype but in the end, it was the Rose’s team that got the 62-58 victory in overtime.

Mayo ended with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists but shot 6-for-20 from the field, including missing 7 straight shots at one point. Rose finished with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists but had 5 turnovers.

“I’m just trying to get better as a player,” Mayo said. “I’m not perfect, but I strive to be perfect. Nobody plays perfect but I just try to get better.”

O.J. Mayo led the Trojans with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists but USC was not able to upset #4 ranked Kansas as the Jayhawks pulled it out 59-55, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. Mayo had an off night, shooting just 6-of-21 from the floor while adding 5 turnovers.

It won’t get any easier as the Trojans now go to New York and play #3 ranked Memphis on Tuesday, featuring another super freshman, Derrick Rose.

O.J. Mayo wasn’t the only freshman on the USC Trojan basketball team making some noise in a 66-55 victory over Oklahoma on Thursday night. Fellow freshman and Mayo recruit, Davon Jefferson scored 23 points, while Mayo added 18.

O.J. was struggling in the first half, shooting 1 of 8 from the field but turned it on in the 2nd half scoring 11 points in a row and 15 of his 18 total points for the Trojans to pull away.

“I wasn’t hitting any shots in the first half, but it didn’t really matter to me because of the lead we had going into the second half,” he said. “It’s all about winning.

“In the second half, I got the opportunities to get some easy baskets.”

The USC Trojans defeated #18 Southern Illinois, 70-45, to win the first ever Anaheim Classic tournament Sunday night.

O.J. Mayo, who didn’t start, finished the game with 13 points including 3 for 3 from the 3-point line. He also added 3 rebounds.

USC plays Oklahoma, Kansas, and Memphis in their next 3 games.

O.J. Mayo finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, playing all 40 minutes as USC pulled out a narrow 57-53 victory over Miami of Ohio in the Anaheim Classic on Friday night.

The Trojans play the championship game on Sunday against #18 Southern Illinois.

O.J. Mayo scored 20 points, including seven straight points in a game ending run while adding 3 assists and 3 rebounds as Southern California held off San Diego 60-50 in a first-round game of the Anaheim Classic.

The Trojans (3-1) advance to play Miami of Ohio tonight.

O.J. Mayo led the USC Trojans with 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists as USC won against South Carolina, 85-75. The Trojans are now 2-1 overall. The game attracted 16 NBA scouts, who were on hand to see Mayo, one of the nation’s top freshman and a likely future lottery pick. Mayo and USC don’t play again until next Thursday against San Diego. The game will be shown on ESPN2.

O.J. Mayo had half the points he scored in his debut but a different outcome as the USC Trojans came away with their first win this season over Citadel 74-47. Mayo shot 6 for 12 from the field including 3 3-pointers for 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Trojans will play again this Saturday at South Carolina.

O.J. Mayo had 32 points in his college debut but his USC Trojans lost to Mercer 96-81. Mayo made 12 of 27 shots, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists but committed 8 turnovers. The points were a USC scoring record for a freshman.

“I didn’t play too well. I think I missed a lot of easy shots. My teammates were setting me up well.”