LAHAINA, Hawaii (Interstat) — In a high-octane offensive display, the Southern California Trojans remained undefeated, pulling away in the second half to defeat the Arizona State Sun Devils 88-75 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday at the Lahaina Civic Center.

The game, played before a crowd of 2,400 as part of the Maui Invitational, was a tale of two halves. Both teams were locked in a 43-43 tie at the break, but the Trojans seized control after halftime, outscoring the Sun Devils 45-32 to secure their seventh consecutive victory to open the season. Arizona State fell to 6-2.

Southern California’s victory was anchored in elite offensive efficiency. The Trojans scored 88 points on just 65 possessions, translating to a blistering offensive rating of 136.3. Their success came from a scorching performance from the field, where they connected on 34 of 57 attempts, a 59.6 percent clip. They also dominated inside, outscoring Arizona State 42-26 in the paint.

The Sun Devils kept pace in the first half largely through their work at the free-throw line, where they were a near-perfect 23 of 27 for the game. However, they struggled to generate consistent offense from the field, making only 22 of 52 shots, including 8 of 25 from beyond the arc. Their offensive rating of 113.9 was no match for the Trojans’ firepower.

Chad Baker-Mazara led all scorers with a game-high 23 points for Southern California. The 6-foot-7 guard from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, added four assists in 34 minutes of action, providing a steadying force for the Trojan offense.

He was complemented by a balanced and efficient frontcourt. Ezra Ausar, a 6-foot-9 forward from Atlanta, Georgia, contributed 14 points and six rebounds, while Jacob Cofie of Seattle, Washington, was a force on both ends. The 6-foot-10 Cofie narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds, and he anchored the defense with three blocked shots.

The Trojans also received a significant spark off the bench from Jaden Brownell. The 6-foot-10 forward from Sandy, Utah, was remarkably efficient, pouring in 16 points on just seven shot attempts in only 14 minutes of play.

Arizona State was led by Maurice Odum, a 6-foot-2 guard from the Bronx, New York, who finished with 17 points and four assists. The Sun Devils also had three other players reach double figures. Anthony Johnson, a 6-foot-3 guard from Midfield, Alabama, scored 15 points, while both Santiago Trouet, a 6-foot-11 forward from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Massamba Diop, a 7-foot-1 center from Rufisque, Senegal, added 13 points apiece.

The game began at a frantic pace, with both teams trading baskets. The first half featured 10 lead changes and six ties, with neither team able to build a lead larger than five points. The Sun Devils capitalized on Southern California’s 11 turnovers, scoring 13 points off those miscues and adding 15 fastbreak points to stay level.

The second half, however, belonged entirely to the Trojans. They opened the period on a 12-4 run to establish a lead they would not relinquish. Their offensive execution was nearly flawless, as they shot 64 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes. Defensively, they tightened up, holding Arizona State to 32 second-half points and limiting their opportunities in transition.

Southern California’s ball movement, while not reflected in a high assist total, created high-percentage looks throughout the half. The Trojans also controlled the glass, securing 12 offensive rebounds that led to crucial second-chance points.

With the win, Southern California continues its strong start to the season, which includes recent narrow victories over Seton Hall and a triple-overtime thriller against Troy. The Trojans look ahead to their conference opener on the road against Oregon on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Arizona State, which entered the game on a three-game winning streak including a road victory at Texas, will return home to face Oklahoma on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Phoenix.