Taj Gibson howls in celebration. AP/Mark Avery

When a tree falls in the Galen center, will anybody hear it? Only when its broadcast on television to the entire West Coast.

Stanford started on top, but only because they were the first team to score a basket. After that, USC took control and never looked back. That opening 2-0 score was the only time Stanford was ahead throughout the entire game, as the USC Trojans finished their regular schedule with a bang, by spanking the #7 team in the nation 77-64.

And oh, as the look on Taj’s face will tell you, it was fun.

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Lewis, Hackett and Jefferson responded to Stanford’s opening basket with a 9-0 run. Then Mayo and Gibson got involved making it 20-6 before the men in Cardinal even knew what hit them. Stanford chipped away at the lead, getting it within four with 1:00 left in the first half. But a free throw by Gibson and a clutch 3-pointer by Lewis gave the Trojans an 8 point lead going in to the locker room.

The Trojans came out for the second half revved up. Some unselfish team play and a lot of defensive rebounds kept USC up by 10 or more throughout the majority of the second half. Defensively USC out-rebounded Stanford 43-30. Taj Gibson had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. OJ Mayo had 25 pts, 8 reb and Keith Wilkinson showed his defensive worth, racking up 8 rebounds. Dwight Lewis had 14 points and 4 rebounds, while Davon Jefferson showed he was a threat from the outside, scoring 11 points including two for three on 3-pointers. Jefferson also had 6 rebounds.

AP Photo/Mark Avery

Mayo grabs one of his 8 rebounds. It went a little something like this:

Lopez: Oh, man…can I have the ball?
Mayo: Nah.
Lopez: Please. I was really trying hard to get it.
Mayo. No. No. No. And please get your hand off my junk…

Stats from ESPN-U