Cheatham, Forsythe lead Akron to a 66-46 win over Trojans at Charleston Classic

Southern California's Elijah Stewart, left, fouls Akron's Deji Ibitayo as he goes up for a shot in the first half at the Charleston Classic NCAA college basketball tournament in Charleston, S.C.,Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) (The Associated Press)

Southern California's Strahinja Gavrilovic, left, of Serbia, fights for the ball with Akron's Jake Kretzer in the first half at the Charleston Classic NCAA college basketball tournament in Charleston, S.C.,Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) (The Associated Press)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Kwan Cheatham had 15 points and Pat Forsythe added 15 points and nine rebounds to lead Akron past Southern Cal 66-46 in the opening game of the Charleston Classic on Thursday.

The Zips took a double-digit lead in the first half and held off the Trojans to beat a Power Five conference member for the fourth straight season.

Noah Robotham added 14 points for Akron, which opened 2-0 for the fourth time in coach Keith Dambrot's 11 seasons.

Southern Cal (1-2) cut Akron's 17-point lead down to 47-40 on Nikola Jovanovic's basket with 10 minutes left. That's when Antino Jackson hit two straight 3-pointers to give the Zips back their comfortable lead.

Jovanovic had 11 points to lead the Trojans, who shot 28.3 percent (15 of 53) for the game.