Bennie Boatwright scored 17 points to help USC remain unbeaten with a 78-73 victory over visiting Southern Methodist on Friday night at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

De'Anthony Melton came off the bench to post 15 points, six rebounds and five assists for USC (5-0), which matched its best start since 2000-01. Jonah Mathews added 14 points.

Ben Moore scored 14 points for Southern Methodist (4-2), which returned three starters from a team that finished 25-5 last season.

Semi Ojeleye had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Shake Milton had 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Sterling Brown added 12 points and six rebounds.

The Trojans were clinging to a one-point lead at the half, but the Mustangs used a 10-4 spurt to take a 37-32 lead on a 3-pointer by Milton early in the second period. The Trojans responded with a decisive 19-4 run to go up 51-41 on a 3-pointer by Melton.

The Mustangs cut an 11-point deficit to six, but a three-point play by Boatwright helped the Trojans withstand the charge. The Mustangs got within five in the closing seconds, but by then it was too late.

The teams traded leads a number of times throughout the opening period. UCS went up 15-12 on a 3-pointer by Charles Buggs. SMU took a 22-21 lead on a dunk by Brown. The Trojans quickly reclaimed the lead on a 3-pointer by Boatwright and carried a 28-27 lead into the break after Jordan McLaughlin made a free throw with three seconds remaining.

USC shot 49.1 percent from the field and made 12 of 24 from 3-point range. The Trojans were just 14 of 26 at the free-throw line. SMU shot 41.5 percent and made 6 of 17 from beyond the arc.