LOS ANGELES — The Wisconsin Badgers, ranked No. 24, secured their seventh consecutive victory by defeating Southern California 84-69 on Saturday afternoon, with John Blackwell contributing 28 points to the team’s success.
Max Klesmit and Nolan Winter also made significant contributions, adding 18 and 13 points, respectively, to help Wisconsin improve their record to 15-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten. The Badgers have shown dominance during their winning streak, boasting an impressive average margin of victory of 16.1 points.
For the Trojans, Saint Thomas was the leading scorer, netting 19 points, while Rashaun Agee chipped in with 15 points. USC, who entered the game on a two-game winning streak, found themselves in a precarious situation, only leading for a brief 49 seconds throughout the match.
Wisconsin opened a commanding 51-32 advantage with 17:54 left in regulation, but USC sparked a comeback with a 13-0 scoring run. The Trojans managed to bring the game within three points before the Badgers reasserted their control.
In terms of standout performances, Blackwell has now recorded three consecutive games scoring at least 20 points, and during Wisconsin’s winning run, he has maintained a commendable assist-to-turnover ratio with 27 assists against 14 turnovers.
On the flip side, USC’s Desmond Claude, who had been averaging 22 points per game in conference matchups and led the Big Ten in that regard, was limited to just nine points in this contest.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when USC trimmed Wisconsin’s lead to 55-52 midway through the second half. The Badgers responded robustly with an 8-2 spurt that provided them with greater separation, including a reverse layup by Blackwell that prompted a 59-52 score.
A significant factor in the outcome was USC’s struggle with ball control, resulting in 16 turnovers that translated into 22 points for Wisconsin. The Badgers have now been effective in forcing at least 15 turnovers by their opponents in two of their last three games.
Looking ahead, Wisconsin will remain in Los Angeles to take on UCLA on Tuesday, while USC prepares to travel to Nebraska for their next game on Wednesday.
