TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State lost five Pac-12 games that had been settled in the final minute or overtime this season, so perhaps the Sun Devils were due.
Guard Tra Holder scored 20 points and his banked-in 3-pointer from the top of the key to beat the shot clock with 1:49 left gave the Sun Devils a nine-point cushion in a 74-67 Pac-12 victory over No. 23 USC on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
"I'm glad that he banked it," Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said. "I don't feel guilty that he banked it. We deserve it.
"Whether it's the way the ball bounces or we don't secure a defensive rebound or a team hits a clutch shot on us, there was a lot of that happening for periods of the season."
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Holder's banker gave the Sun Devils a 69-60 lead, and they made five free throws in the final 51.4 seconds to remain in control.
Guard Gerry Blakes had 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists as Arizona State (14-11, 4-8) won its second straight after losing five of six.
"This won was big for us and it's a pivotal moment in our season," Holder said. "It showed our perseverance and our resilience. We were hungry and we did what it takes to win."
Center Nikola Jovanovic had 25 points and 15 rebounds and guard Jordan McLaughlin scored 13 points for USC (18-6, 7-4), which moved into the AP poll this week. Jovanovic has seven double-doubles this season.
Guard Julian Jacobs had 12 points for USC, which shot 51.9 percent from the field but committed 17 turnovers and gave up 16 offensive rebounds. Jacobs had seven turnovers.
Arizona State forward Savon Goodman had 17 points and six rebounds, four on the offensive end.
"We gave them 12 extra possessions, five more turnovers, and they had seven more offensive rebounds," USC coach Andy Enfield said. "You give up 12 extra possessions to a team on their home court you are going to lose.
"We're not worried about rankings or the NCAA tournament or anything like that. We're worried about every game. Tonight, we didn't play well enough to win. A 31-game schedule you are going to have bumps in the road. Just a few of our guys struggled a little bit."
Jovanovic, McLaughlin and Jacobs were 21 of 28 from the field. The others were 7 of 26.
Blakes hit a 3-pointer on the first possession of the second half to tie the score at 30 and his three-point play seven minutes later gave the Sun Devils a 45-38 lead.
USC freshman forward Bennie Boatwright was called for a technical foul when he elbowed Arizona State forward Willie Atkins as USC shot a free throw with 11:53 remaining, and Atkins made the two free throws.
Goodman made a layup to complete a four-point possession for a 49-40 lead and USC never was closer than three points thereafter.
"We didn't take care of the ball, which was one of the biggest issues," Jovanovic said. "We gave up more offensive rebounds than we were supposed to, and I think that was the game-changer.
"They were making shots. I want to give them credit."
NOTES: USC had been swept on five of its last six trips to Arizona, with its only win in Tempe in 2011. The Trojans, who play No. 17 Arizona on Sunday night, did not make the Arizona trip in 2013-14 because of the Pac-12's unbalanced schedule. ... Arizona State G Tra Holder scored at least 20 points in five straight games at the start of the Pac-12 season, the first Sun Devils player with five straight 20-point game since James Harden in 2007-08. ... Trojans reserve F Darion Clark missed his second game since suffering a dislocated right shoulder in practice on Feb. 3. He is expected to miss 2-3 weeks. ... USC joined the AP Top 25 his week for the second time this season. The Trojans were No. 21 on Jan. 18, their first time in the rankings since Nov. 17, 2008. ... Former Arizona State coach Bill Frieder attended the game.
