Highly touted freshman forward Dewayne Dedmon had 16 points and eight rebounds as Southern Cal held off visiting Cal State Northridge 66-59 in the season opener for both teams on Friday.

The 7-foot Dedmon, who began playing organized basketball as a senior in high school, has already been called a future NBA lottery pick by Trojans coach Kevin O’Neill.

Dedmon played only 25 minutes while battling foul trouble and leg cramps, but his dunk with 3:17 remaining gave the Trojans a three-point lead, and Southern Cal never trailed again.

Aaron Fuller had 16 points and nine rebounds in his Southern Cal debut, and Maurice Jones finished with 16 points after going 12-of-15 from the free throw line.

Jones, expected to be the Trojans’ top scoring threat, was 2-of-13 shooting from the field and 0-of-7 from the 3-point line. The Trojans were 0-for-15 from beyond the arc.

Northridge, picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Big West, refused to fade against Southern Cal. The Matadors trailed by eight at halftime before taking a 54-52 lead with 4:13 left.

Stephan Hicks led Cal State Northridge with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Allen Guei and Vinnie McGhee added 14 points apiece.