Rutgers Scarlet Knights at USC Trojans
· NCAA Men's Basketball
USC holds off Rutgers' late rally, wins 78-75
Rutgers never led after scoring the opening bucket and trailed by as many as 19 points early in the second half. With 2:23 to play, Tariq Francis sparked an 11-2 surge for the Scarlet Knights that capped the scoring with 36 seconds left. Francis scored nine points during the stretch.
Chad Baker-Mazara missed a jumper for USC with five seconds to go but then forced a turnover to end it. Baker-Mazara finished with 17 points for USC (16-6, 5-6 Big Ten). Cofie scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Francis scored 26 points to lead Rutgers (9-13, 2-9), which has lost five straight. Dylan Grant added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Trojans started with an 18-6 run and built a 40-30 halftime lead. Cofie scored 12 points and Ausar added nine in the first half for the Trojans. Grant and Francis each scored nine first-half points for the Scarlet Knights. USC had its largest lead, 56-37, with 14:37 to play.
USC: hosts Indiana on Tuesday.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 75 - 78 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 75 - 78 |
| 2nd 0:01 | Chad Baker-Mazara Steal. | 75 - 78 |
| 2nd 0:01 | Tariq Francis bad pass turnover | 75 - 78 |
| 2nd 0:03 | Emmanuel Ogbole Defensive Rebound. | 75 - 78 |
Statistics
 RUTG |
 USC |
|
|---|---|---|
| 29-74 | FG | 26-51 |
| 39 | Field Goal % | 51 |
| 8-24 | 3PT | 4-12 |
| 33 | Three Point % | 33 |
| 9-12 | FT | 22-30 |
| 75 | Free Throw % | 73 |
| 33 | Rebounds | 40 |
| 17 | Offensive Rebounds | 12 |
| 16 | Defensive Rebounds | 28 |
| 14 | Assists | 16 |
| 7 | Steals | 6 |
| 4 | Blocks | 4 |
| 8 | Turnovers | 17 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 8 | Total Turnovers | 17 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 19 | Points Off Turnovers | 14 |
| 12 | Fast Break Points | 8 |
| 28 | Points in Paint | 36 |
| 21 | Fouls | 13 |
| 2 | Largest Lead | 19 |
| 1 | Lead Change | 1 |
| 3 | Percent Led | 91 |
Game Information
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Attendance: 5,322 | Capacity:
2025-26 Big Ten Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 10-1 | - | 20-1 |
| Nebraska | 9-1 | 0.5 | 20-1 |
| Illinois | 9-1 | 0.5 | 18-3 |
| Michigan State | 9-2 | 1 | 19-3 |
| Wisconsin | 8-3 | 2 | 16-6 |
| Purdue | 7-3 | 2.5 | 17-4 |
| UCLA | 7-4 | 3 | 15-7 |
| Iowa | 5-4 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Indiana | 6-5 | 4 | 15-7 |
| Ohio State | 6-5 | 4 | 14-7 |
| USC | 5-6 | 5 | 16-6 |
| Washington | 4-7 | 6 | 12-10 |
| Minnesota | 3-7 | 6.5 | 10-11 |
| Northwestern | 2-9 | 8 | 10-12 |
| Rutgers | 2-9 | 8 | 9-13 |
| Maryland | 1-8 | 8 | 8-12 |
| Oregon | 1-9 | 8.5 | 8-13 |
| Penn State | 0-10 | 9.5 | 9-12 |