Forward Aaron Fuller's double-double performance lifted USC to a 63-61 win over Dayton on Sunday at Galen Center. (Danny Lee/Neon Tommy)

The Trojans (5-8) outlasted Dayton, 63-61, in overtime on Sunday in front of a crowd of 4,113 at Galen Center. The win over the Flyers (9-4) capped off a daunting non-conference schedule that included setbacks against Illinois, Marquette, San Diego State, New Mexico and Minnesota, among others.

Forward Aaron Fuller registered 12 points and 10 rebounds in his second start of the season. The Mesa, Ariz. native gave the Trojans a 59-55 lead with 3:40 remaining in the extra period thanks to two free throws and an offensive rebound put-back.

"He just plays hard," O'Neill said. "He gives us what we need defensively. He always tries to make the right plays for his teammates and we need that."

Senior guard Jio Fontan converted a three-point play to help USC secure a 62-58 lead over its Atlantic-10 foe. The visitors had the game's final shot, but guard Kevin Dillard's heave to beat the buzzer clanked off the left side of the rim as time expired.

"It was tough to get that win, but I'm proud of our guys," Fontan said. "Aaron did an unbelievable job with a double-double."

Eric Wise scored a season-high 19 points to lead the Trojans, but with USC up 49-42 at the 5:29 mark of the second half, the 6-foot-6 forward was ejected after receiving two technical fouls. The Flyers went on an 11-4 run to force overtime after Wise's departure.

Whether O'Neill makes it a New Year's resolution or not, the fourth-year coach singled out his players' discipline issues as a priority that needs to be addressed moving forward.

"Two technical fouls in a two-point game? That's immaturity," O'Neill said. "If you think you're playing anywhere past college basketball with that kind of immaturity, you are not."

However, O'Neill had praise for Fontan's effort guarding Dillard, who led the Flyers with 15.3 points per contest coming into Sunday's game. Dillard turned in 13 points against the Trojans but was silenced to just 1-of-10 shooting from the field.

"Jio controlled the game defensively with Dillard," O'Neill said. "He had one field goal. That's an unbelievable job on a guy who's a high-level player and many think is a pro prospect."

Fontan pulled up in the lane to give the Trojans a 53-51 lead with 5.5 seconds left in the second half. Dillard took the ball coast-to-coast out of a Dayton timeout to feed Kevin Oliver for a buzzer-beating layup that led to the overtime session.

USC grabbed a 27-20 advantage after one half of play, holding the Flyers to just 8-for-26 (30.8 percent) shooting before the intermission. The Trojans open their Pac-12 campaign Thursday, Jan. 3 when Stanford visits Galen Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Follow more of Neon Tommy's USC basketball coverage here.

Reach Staff Reporter Danny Lee here; follow him here.