LOS ANGELES -- Mississippi State remained undefeated with its 12th straight win, but it wasnt easy.Victoria Vivians scored 19 points and Morgan William had 18 to lead the fifth-ranked Bulldogs to a 76-72 victory over Southern California in the championship game of the Women of Troy Classic on Sunday.William shot 5 for 10 from the field and 8 for 9 on free throws, had three steals and was named the MVP of the tournament.They gave us a run for our money, said William, who helped MSU win its third tournament of the season. After a pr first half, we came out more focused, aggressive and tk care of the ball in the second half.Breanna Richardson added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs, who are 12-0 for the third time in schl history. Vivians, William and Richardson combined to sht 17 for 38 and MSU outrebounded the Trojans 40-24.Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer said his team did not have its best game but was grateful to come away with the victory.I dont know how we won this game today, it was clearly not one of our best and we feel fortunate, Schaefer said. USC has us on our heels the whole first half. We had 13 turnovers in the first half and only two in the second. But when there is 5 minutes to play, I like our competitiveness and that speaks volumes of our team.Sadie Edwards scored 24 points on 9-for-14 shting, Kristen Simon had 15 points and Minyon Mre added 14 points, six assists and four steals for the Trojans (8-2), who snapped a six-game winning streak and lost for the first time at home this season. Asiah Jones also had eight blocked shots.Im disappointed, USC coach Cynthia Cper-Dyke said. I thought we played well enough to win this game. They made their run and we just didnt recover, but my hat is off to my team. They played 40 minutes of basketball tonight. I think our defense helped caused MSU not to play a great game tonight.After trailing most of the game, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 75-70 on Williams three-point play with 1:26 to play. Courtney Jacos 3-point attempt with 2 seconds remaining hit off the rim and Mississippi State grabbed the rebound and held on to win.Simon scored 11 points in the first half and USC shot 42.3 percent to take a 33-29 lead at the break.In the tournaments consolation game, SMU defeated Grambling State 56-36 behind Dai Thomas 17 points.BIG PICTUREMississippi State: The Bulldogs completed a nine-game road trip that covered six states and 17,190 miles in 24 days. MSU returns to Starkville and will play five of the next seven games at home.USC: After a strong showing in nonconference play, with one more game to go, USC will begin its Pac-12 schedule Dec. 30 with an improved offensive attack that is averaging 11.1 more points per game than last seasons squad that finished 6-12 in conference.TIP-INSMSU 5-8 guard Blair Schaefer has suffered a few bumps and bruises during Bulldogs 9 game road trip but it hasnt slowed her down. In a game against Hawaii, Schaefer suffered a broken nose and didnt miss the next game. On Friday against SMU Schaefer was elbowed above her left eye and received 4 stiches but still scored a career-high 18 points before leaving the game late in the third quarter.POLL IMPLICATIONSMSU remained No. 5 in the AP Poll for the second consecutive week, its highest ranking ever in schls history. USC, after pushing the Bulldogs to the limit, should get consideration for nearly knocking off its second Top 25 team this season.UP NEXTMississippi State: Host Alabama State on Tuesday and then complete its nonconference action against Northwestern State on Dec. 28 before opening its SEC schedule against LSU on New Years Day.USC: At Big West opponent UC Irvine on Wednesday. m.com/Sean-Elliott-City-Edition-Jersey/" target="_blank">Sean Elliott Jersey . 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The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the bst he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. m.com/Quinndary-Weatherspn-City-Edition-Jersey/" target="_blank">Quinndary Weatherspn Spurs Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. CARMEL, Ind. -- U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson ran off four birdies in his last five holes Saturday and posted a 4-under 68, giving him a three-shot lead going into the final round of the soggy BMW Championship.Johnson couldnt make any putts early. He couldnt miss late.His late run to seize control began with a 10-ft birdie putt on the 14th hole and ended with an 18-ft birdie putt on the 18th.Paul Casey did his best to stay with Johnson. Casey, coming off a runner-up finish on Labor Day at the TPC Boston, matched two of Johnsons birdies during a late run until he had to scramble for pars on the last two holes. He still managed a bogey-free 68 and will be in the final group Sunday at 15-under.Johnson was at 18-under 198.He will be going for his third victory of the year, which would move him to the top of the FedEx Cup going into the finale at the Tour Championship in two weeks and make him a heavy favorite to win PGA Tour player of the year and the Vardon Trophy.J.B. Holmes was still in the mix; he shot a 68 and was four shots behind. Holmes at least is making a compelling case to be a captains pick for the Ryder Cup when Davis Love III announces three of his selections on Monday. Holmes finished 10th in the U.S. standings.Roberto Castro, who began the third round tied for the lead, didnt make a birdie in his round of 74 and fell six shots behind. Worst yet, the Georgia Tech alum who lives in Atlanta hurt his chances of moving into the top 30 who advance to the Tour Championship.Barring a collapse by Johnson, which has haappened before, his big finish after a rain delay earlier Saturday eliminated several players.dddddddddddd Adam Scott finally got some putts to drop, and with birdies on the last two holes, he shot a 67 and joined Matt Kuchar (6 at 11-under 205.But they were seven shots behind after Johnson was done making birdies.Im certainly a long shot. Im a long way back of the leaders and some great names on the leaderboard, Kuchar said. But I got a chance, and golf on Sunday in fun when you have a chance.Jordan Spieth had such a pr day putting that the distance of his total putts added to 30 feet, 6 inches. Spieth routinely makes one putt from that distance in a round. He was helped by two chip-ins, one for birdie and one for eagle, but closing with two straight bogeys gave him a 68. He was 10 shots behind, and his attention turned to a strong finish with hopes of getting one of the top five seeds at East Lake in the Tour Championship.Anyone in the top five only has to win the Tour Championship to claim the FedEx Cup and its $10 million bonus.Other Ryder Cup hopefuls didnt shine. Bubba Watson?settled for a 72, while Rickie Fowler shot 71 and was tied for 59th.The third round already was scheduled to start late because of morning storms in the forecast, which pounded Crked Stick and delayed that time by 1 1/2 hours. Making it tougher was the wind that pushed the clouds away and made it difficult to score. ' ' '