LOS ANGELES -- Southern California didnt panic when they fell behind in the second half and the Trojans rallied by hitting threes to stay undefeated.Bennie Boatwright scored a season-high 17 points and freshman DeAnthony Melton added a career-high 15 points to lead the Trojans to a 78-73 victory over SMU on Friday night.Boatwright made 4-of-7 3-pointers and Jonah Matthews scored 14 points for the Trojans.I was out for 2 months and Im now getting my rhythm back, Boatwright said. My flow within the offense is picking up and my teammates are making good passes to me. In my first two games, I was pressing and everything was off.USC (5-0) improved to 5-1 all-time against the Mustangs (4-2) and shot 49.1 percent from the field, including 12 of 24 from beyond the arc.Melton scored nine points during a 19-4 run -- capped by Meltons 3 -- that gave USC a 51-41 lead with 10:56 to play.I got out there and ran and got open shots and that makes it fun, said Melton, who made 5 of 9 shots, had 6 rebounds and 5 assists. We (the freshmen) are holding our own and our hard work is paying off. Im learning and Im getting stronger.Boatwright and Melton combined to make 7 of the 12 USC 3-pointers.SMU cut the score to 74-68 with 1:15 to play following a steal and layup by Shake Milton but would get no closer.That was a nice win, USC coach Andy Enfield said. SMU is a quality team and will probably win 20-plus games. It was a big win for us. The players showed poise when they got behind in the second half. They ramped up the defense and got back in the game. The defense was getting stops using our length. Then we got out in transition and hit some threes.Ben Moore led SMU with 14 points. Semi Ojeleye added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Milton and Sterling Brown each scored 12.The Trojans took a 19-14 lead following a 3-pointer by Shaqquan Aaron at the 9:39 mark. The Mustangs battled back and took a 22-21 lead before USC took a 28-27 lead into the break.We knew coming in that USC was a strong team offensively with great quickness, SMU coach Tim Jankovich said. We played a tremendous first half defensively but over the course of the game you could see our opponent hurting us with 3-point shooting. Every single guy is a big threat on USC and you could really see that come alive in the second half.SMU outrebounded the Trojans 39-35 and outscored USC in the paint 38-24.BIG PICTURESMU: With five players averaging double figures and the Mustangs having led the American Athletic Conference in shooting percentage for the last 3 seasons, SMU figures to finish higher in conference than middle of the pack as predicted.USC: USC has four starters averaging in double figures and its four freshmen are contributing. For the second consecutive season, the Trojans open the season at 5-0. The Trojans are one of four Pac-12 teams still undefeated.DeMAN OF STEAL: Melton had five steals in a win against New Orleans on Nov. 22 and leads the Pac-12 with 14 steals. His 3.3 steals per game seventh in the country.QUICK COMPARE: Entering Fridays game, both USC and SMU were leading their respective conferences -- Pac-12 and American Athletic -- in offensive rebounding. The Trojans average 15.8 per game and SMU is averaging 14.6.UP NEXTSMU: The Mustangs continue their two-game road trip at Boise State before returning home to open a six-game home stand.USC: The Trojans wrap up their six-game home stand against UC Santa Barbara on Sunday. Ryquell Armstead Youth Jersey . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Nick Foles Youth Jersey . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. http://www.authenticjaguarslockroom.com/Youth-Leonard-Fournette-Elite-Jersey/ . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. Nick Foles Womens Jersey . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Telvin Smith Youth Jersey . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The reality of injuries sustained in the NFL can be harsh.When a player like Phillip Gaines suffers a serious injury, theres never a guarantee a spot will still be available upon his return. The Chiefs third-round draft pick out of Rice in 2014 worked into a starting role by the end of his rookie year and reassumed that position last year.A torn ACL suffered in Week 3 during a loss to the Packers ended Gaines season and clouded his future.Gaines left offseason activities as the presumed second starter at cornerback opposite 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters. Gaines and Steve Nelson have split time on the right side with the first team so far in training camp, and Gaines clearly fits into the Chiefs plans.It just feels good to be able to have the opportunity to play, and Im going to try and make the most of it, Gaines said.The Chiefs listed Nelson, a third-round pick out of Oregon State in 2015, as the second starter in the first depth chart released earlier this week.Gaines continues to slowly work back from the knee injury, and Kansas City coach Andy Reid limited his participation in Wednesdays practice, the last one in pads ahead of the preseason opener against Seattle on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Reid said he would attempt to play everyone on the roster, and the early portion could provide a first look at how the Chiefs deploy the cornerbacks alongside Peters, who grabbed eight interceptions and returned two for touchdowns in his first season.The Chiefs cornerbacks corps took a hit in the offseason when Sean Smith left in free agency for the Oakland Raiders, leaving a starting spot open, with Gaines, Nelson, Marcus Cooper and a trio of rookies looking to earn playing time. None of those seven players has more than three years of experience.Real talented group. Weve just got to come along, Peters said. Thats what camp is for. As camp goes on, everyone gets a lot more comfortable and the speed of the game slows down and you start making your plays. I love the talent. Everyones out here competing.Gaines started his career in Kansas City with a prominent role on special teams. He started five games in 2014 before a concussion and illness ended his season after 13 games.With Smith suspended the first three games of 2015, Gaines earned a starting spot. But his season ended in the game before Smith retturned.ddddddddddddHe has 26 tackles and no interceptions in his first 16 NFL matches.Nelson didnt play much early in 2015, but Gaines injury and other struggles in the secondary helped him get on the field in 12 games. His biggest moment came in a playoff win against the Houston Texans when he briefly subbed for Peters and broke up a pass intended for star wideout DeAndre Hopkins.Coaches have shown a preference to use Gaines in the slot, making him a potential fit as a nickel defender rather than the No. 1 cornerback on the right side.Despite having only eight tackles to his credit, Nelson could quickly move into that starting role, and coaches and teammates like his fiery attitude and emotional style. Nelson has admitted disappointment with not playing more as a rookie, but Reid has confidence he is ready to assume a much larger role.Hes an energy giver, that kid, Reid said. Hes learning all the fundamentals and technique and battling like crazy. He never gives up on a play. Hes got a short memory.Cooper currently has the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Peters. Cooper showed flashes in 2013 with three interceptions, but struggled in 2014 and made just two tackles in 10 games last year.The rookie draft picks sit behind the top four attempting to make their case for a spot in the rotation.KeiVarae Russell (third round, Notre Dame), Eric Murray (fourth round, Minnesota) and D.J. White (sixth round, Georgia Tech) were all taken to add depth at a seemingly thin spot. Currently, Murray and sixth-year veteran defensive back Jamell Fleming, who has played some cornerback the past two years with Kansas City, are listed at safety on the depth chart.Peters, Gaines and Nelson look like the only guaranteed contributors at cornerback, but the depth could be important -- a lesson the Chiefs learned last year while rotating through a multitude of looks.Nothings set in stone until the games here, and from game to game it can change, too, Gaines said. I got hurt last year. At the blink of an eye someone else had to come in. You always have to be mentally prepared to take every rep even if youre not on the field so when you are put in, we just keep it moving.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '