Thrilling Matchup in Los Angeles
In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night in Los Angeles, the Southern California Trojans achieved a narrow 78-75 victory against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Ezra Ausar stood out for USC, contributing a solid 21 points to the team’s score. Jacob Cofie played a crucial role as well, notching a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, helping USC to improve their record to 16-6 overall and 5-6 in the Big Ten conference.
Game Highlights
Despite a promising start where Rutgers took an early lead, the team struggled to maintain momentum. They managed to score first but never regained the lead after that point, facing a significant 19-point deficit shortly into the second half. A spirited late-game comeback saw Tariq Francis, who led the Scarlet Knights with an impressive 26 points, ignite an 11-2 run that brought them within striking distance with just over two minutes remaining. Francis poured in nine points during this critical stretch of the game.
USC, which had a commanding 40-30 advantage at halftime, initially controlled the game with an 18-6 scoring run early on. Cofie and Ausar were significant contributors in the first half, combining for over half of the Trojans’ points going into the locker room. Despite the effort from Rutgers, which included solid performances from Dylan Grant, who added 14 points and 10 rebounds, they ultimately fell short, marking their fifth consecutive loss this season.
Closing Moments
In the closing seconds of the game, Chad Baker-Mazara had a chance to further secure USC’s win but missed a jumper with just five seconds on the clock. Nevertheless, he managed to force a turnover shortly thereafter, preventing Rutgers from having another opportunity to tie the game.
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, Rutgers will next face UCLA on Tuesday, while USC is set to host Indiana the same evening, as both teams aim to improve their standings as the season moves on.
