In an impressive display of basketball prowess, USC decisively defeated Washington with a score of 92-61 in an exciting game played on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Chibuzo Agbo led the charge for USC with a standout performance, scoring 26 points and shooting an impressive 9 for 12 from the field. Agbo matched his career best by hitting seven 3-pointers out of 10 attempts. Desmond Claude also delivered a notable performance with a double-double, contributing 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Rashaun Agee added to the efforts by scoring 13 of his 18 points during the first half.
USC, holding a 15-15 overall record and a 7-12 standing in the Big Ten, showed remarkable efficiency in their shooting, especially in the first half. The Trojans successfully converted 18 of 32 shots overall, with a 58% accuracy rate, and excelled in 3-point shooting by making 9 out of 13 attempts, translating to 69%. This momentum carried through the second half with USC finishing 31 for 55 from the field (56%) and 15 for 26 from beyond the arc (58%). Additionally, they were formidable from the free-throw line, making 15 of 16 attempts, a shooting accuracy of 94%.
On the other side, Washington saw noteworthy contributions from several players despite the loss. Mekhi Mason made his mark with 19 points, with 14 of those points scored in the first half. Great Osobor and DJ Davis also contributed significantly, scoring 17 and 13 points respectively. Washington initially took a narrow lead after Osobor’s dunk with 14:28 left in the first half. However, USC quickly turned the tables with a strong 18-4 run initiated by Claude’s 3-pointer. This streak gave USC their first double-digit lead when Agee hit a 3 to make it 24-13 with over 10 minutes remaining in the half. USC maintained their advantage, leading 47-35 at halftime.
Unfortunately for Washington, now with a 13-17 overall record and 4-15 in conference play, this defeat marked their exit from the 15-team Big Ten Conference Tournament. The competitive landscape is such that USC, alongside Nebraska, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Rutgers, occupy the final five spots in the standing, each sharing a 7-12 record in conference play.
Looking ahead, USC is set to conclude its regular season with a game against UCLA on Saturday. Meanwhile, Washington will wrap up their season with a home game facing Oregon on Sunday.
