LINCOLN, Neb. – In a hard-fought contest, Southern California edged Nebraska 78-73 on Wednesday night, marking a fifth consecutive defeat for the Cornhuskers. Desmond Claude stood out with a game-high 21 points, while Rashaun Agee made a significant impact with all 14 of his points coming in the second half.

With just over a minute remaining, Brice Williams managed to score a layup followed by a three-pointer, bringing Nebraska level at 69. However, Claude quickly responded with a three-pointer of his own, and the Trojans maintained their lead by converting all six of their free throws in the final 17 seconds. Claude successfully made the first pair, while Wesley Yates III sealed the victory by hitting four free throws, finishing with 17 points and four steals, and making all nine of his attempts from the charity stripe.

For the Trojans (12-7, 4-4), Claude shot 8 for 18 from the floor and contributed six assists. Agee, who came off the bench, showcased his shooting prowess, hitting 4 out of 6 from beyond the arc and pulling down eight rebounds, while Saint Thomas added 11 points.

On the other side, Juwan Gary was the standout performer for Nebraska (12-7, 2-6), scoring a career-high 27 points. He made 11 of his 19 shots but struggled with three-point shooting, missing all five attempts from long range. Brice Williams supported the effort with 17 points, and Connor Essegian contributed 15 points, including three shots from beyond the arc.

Gary was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 16 points and contributing to half of Nebraska’s 14 baskets, helping the team to a narrow 33-31 lead at halftime. Yates scored nine points for USC, and Claude rounded off the first half’s scoring by finding the net with a jumper just before the buzzer.

Looking ahead, the Cornhuskers will be traveling to face No. 18 Wisconsin on Sunday, while the Trojans will host a matchup against UCLA on Monday.