LOS ANGELES — Nebraska got big plays in the final 66 seconds Sunday from Ryan Anderson and Eshaunte Jones to nip Southern California 51-48 in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Challenge.

Anderson, a senior wing, stole a pass at midcourt, drove down for an acrobatic layup and was fouled with 1:06 to play. He canned the free throw to put the Huskers ahead 48-46.

Then with the score tied at 48, Nebraska worked the clock down from 37 seconds before Jones, a freshman guard, swished a 3-pointer from the corner with 11.7 seconds left on an assist from point guard Lance Jeter.

USC called time with 8.4 seconds left. The Trojans, in need of a 3 to tie, couldn’t get past the defense of two Huskers from Los Angeles — guards Sek Henry and Brandon Richardson — and fired a wayward shot at the buzzer.

It was NU’s first road victory against a nonconference BCS opponent since winning at Tennessee five seasons ago.

The outcome also was a big improvement from the first road game for Nebraska (4-1), a 14-point loss at Saint Louis.

“The adjustments the kids have made from the first road trip to this road trip — understanding time and possession and all those things — you’ve got to be happy with it,’’ NU coach Doc Sadler said on his postgame radio show.

Some of the numbers were ugly against USC (2-2), picked to finish ninth in the Pac-10.

Nebraska was outrebounded by 11 and shot 27.3 percent from the foul line (3 of 11). But the Huskers were plus-10 in turnovers and outshot USC 42 percent to 38.5. Neither team ever led by more than four points.

Anderson led Nebraska with 14 points and four steals. He was mistakenly sidelined for a few moments with 5:27 to play when he was ruled to have committed his fifth foul.

A review of the scorebook showed that it was Anderson’s fourth, and he played the rest of the way.

Besides his key steal and layup, Anderson provided an unrecorded assist on Jones’ winning basket.

“Give credit for Ryan telling me to go all the way through,” Jones said on the postgame show. “I probably would have stayed in the same spot that I was in the whole time.

“Luckily, Ryan, being our leader and one of our seniors, sent me all the way through to the corner. I got an open 3, and I hit it.”

Sadler said he wanted a low-scoring game.

“A lot of people will look at this score of 51-48 and not think it’s a great score,” he said. “But I was afraid if it got into the 60s, we might have a difficult time winning.

“Credit our guys for making some big plays down the stretch and sneaking one out here.”

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