LOS ANGELES – USC couldn't hold off Minnesota, after leading by 14 points in the first half, they overcame the deficit behind Lu’cye Patterson’s 25 points in the 69-66 win on Saturday afternoon at the Galen Center.
“We ended up playing super sloppy basketball in the second half late in the game,” coach Musselman said.
The Trojans were trailing by four points when Rashuan Agee sank a three-pointer from the top of the key, bringing the deficit down to one. Shortly after, Desmond Claude made two free throws, giving the Trojans a one-point lead. Agee then secured an offensive rebound, which led to an open three-pointer from Wesley Yates III, marking his third three-pointer of the game. The match was tightly contested, with both teams exchanging leads late in the second half.
Chibuzo Agbo was fouled while attempting a three-pointer from the wing with 1:31 remaining in the game. He made all three of his free throw attempts, putting USC ahead 66-61. It seemed like the game was secure, but Frank Mitchell quickly responded by scoring four points.
The Trojans had possession of the ball but were unable to take advantage of it. Minnesota's Patterson was fouled while driving to the basket and successfully made both of his free throws, putting the Golden Gophers ahead with a score of 67-66. USC then committed a turnover, after which Minnesota challenged the call and won, resulting in two additional free throws for Patterson.
This was not the offensive performance that USC head coach Eric Musselman had expected from Patterson.
“We knew that Patterson was a good mid-range dribble drive guy,” coach Musselman said. “I did not come into this game expecting him to go 11 of 13 from the foul line, read whatever you want on that.”
Patterson scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half, finishing the game a perfect 6 for 6 from the field.
After leading by 14 points in the first half, the USC Trojans struggled in the second half, managing only eight field goals as they failed to find good shot opportunities. Agee came off the bench for USC after Josh Cohen struggled defensively but never found his rhythm in the game, ultimately playing just eight minutes in the loss.
Agee recorded six offensive rebounds, which were the only offensive boards collected by USC throughout the entire game. The Trojans lost the overall rebounding battle, 36-27. Despite leading for 36 minutes, USC dropped a crucial game. Coach Musselman's goal remains to secure a spot in the Big Ten tournament.
“I told the staff at the beginning of the year that I thought making the Big Ten Tournament was something that we don’t want to be left out of it,” coach Musselman said. “ That’s now in jeopardy.”
The Trojans were ready to slow down and contain the opposing team's star player. They did an excellent job against Dawson Garcia, who averages 19 points per game, limiting him to just seven points on 3 of 10 shooting from the field. Mitchell had a strong performance for the Golden Gophers, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in just 20 minutes off the bench.
USC struggled with ball security, committing 14 turnovers, which Minnesota capitalized on for 15 points. The Trojans also faced challenges with second-chance opportunities, with Minnesota scoring 12 points compared to USC's five. USC allowed their opponent to score 40 points in the second half.
Abraham Perez - The Sporting Tribune
USC guard Chibuzo Agbo (7) gets in a defensive stance in a game against the Minnesota Gophers, Saturday, February 15, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Agbo and Yates III each finished with 18 points and combined to shoot 6 of 7 from beyond the arc. Agee contributed nine points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. Saint Thomas struggled during the game, playing 38 minutes and recording only five points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Desmond Claude faced foul trouble, significantly affecting Coach Musselman's offensive strategy for the second half. Claude ended the game with 12 points, five assists, and one rebound in 31 minutes.
The Trojans are getting ready for a two-game road trip. This season, they have typically left for games a day in advance, but for the first time, they will depart for Los Angeles two days early. This situation has been a concern for coach Musselman's team throughout the year, as he has openly discussed the challenges of traveling across the country while their next opponent is already in Los Angeles, playing against their crosstown rival, UCLA.
Ohio State is scheduled to play UCLA on Sunday, February 23, and will stay in Los Angeles to face the Trojans on Wednesday, February 26. Meanwhile, the Trojans will be traveling to play Maryland on Thursday, February 20. Then they will face Rutgers on the road on February 23 before returning to play a well-rested Buckeyes team. Welcome to the Big Ten Conference.