LOS ANGELES — In a strong performance, Chibuzo Agbo contributed 14 points while Matt Knowling added 13 off the bench, leading Southern California (USC) to a decisive 77-51 win against Chattanooga in the season-opening game under new head coach Eric Musselman on Monday evening.

Agbo showcased his shooting skills, hitting 4 out of 9 attempts from beyond the arc and concluding the night with 5 out of 11 overall. Meanwhile, Knowling demonstrated remarkable efficiency, making all six of his shots and adding one free throw to his tally.

Musselman, who takes the reins of the Trojans as they transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten this season, previously enjoyed a successful five-year stint at Arkansas, where he posted a 111-59 record. He ranks among the top active NCAA Division I coaches in terms of winning percentage for those with at least nine years of coaching experience.

For Chattanooga, Honor Huff was the standout scorer, finishing the game with 17 points, having converted 5 of his 13 attempts from three-point range, although he struggled with two missed shots inside the arc.

Desmond Claude played a pivotal role in the first half, scoring eight of his nine points early on. Additionally, Wesley Yates III, coming off the bench, also tallied seven of his nine points, helping USC establish a 32-22 lead by halftime.

Knowling’s pull-up jumper early in the second half extended the Trojans’ lead to 55-34 with just over ten minutes remaining. From that point, USC maintained a lead of at least 20 points for the duration of the game.

USC finished with an impressive shooting percentage, making half of their 64 attempts, including hitting eight of their 25 three-point shots. Conversely, the Mocs struggled significantly, registering only 27.8% shooting overall (15 for 54) and 17.6% from three-point territory (6 for 34).

This matchup represents the second meeting between the two schools, with their previous encounter resulting in a 73-46 victory for USC back in 2009 during the Puerto Rico Tip Off.