Game 460 - USC vs. New Mexico State

Diamond Head Classic championship game
December 25 at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, HI
ESPN

Now seems as good a time as any to make a key adjustment to the Scoochie Smith All Stars. The 200 Game Season all-name team has been around since the site began more than two years ago, and we've seen several USC games, but until tonight, Bennie Boatwright was a glaring omission.

Boatwright became the 34th member of the Scoochies, then went out and poured in a career-high 33 points in USC's 77-72 victory to win its second Diamond Head Classic championship.

With the game tied at 72-72, Boatwright saved his best for last, draining a three (his sixth in 10 attempts on the night) from about four feet beyond the arc with 4.2 seconds left for the game-winner.

In the ninth year of the event, USC became the first two-time winner.

New Mexico State, which picked up a huge victory over No. 6 Miami in the semi finals, came up just short. The Aggies got 28 points on 6-of-9 shooting from long range from Zach Lofton and a near-triple-double from Jemerrio Jones (13 & 11 with eight assists), and led 72-68 with two minutes to play on an impressive Eli Chuha put back over 6-11 Chimezie Metu, but didn't score again.

Jordan McLaughlin grabbed an offensive rebound off a Metu miss & banked in a 12-footer to make it 72-70, then Metu had a huge block late in the shot clock on Lofton that led to a tying, transition lay-in by Jonah Matthews. New Mexico State missed a three, and after a time out, Boatwright hit the winner.

McLaughlin finished with 12 points and his 21st career game with at least eight assists.