USC Men's Basketball's Late Rally Comes Up Short As Trojans Fall To Lobos

Friday, November 29

Palm Springs, Calif.

9:00 p.m.

USC

5-3,0-0Big Ten

New Mexico

6-2,0-0Mountain West

Southern California

New Mexico

Photo by: Chris Mora

USC Men's Basketball's Late Rally Comes Up Short As Trojans Fall To Lobos

November 30, 2024 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

USC Men's Basketball lost to the University of New Mexico Lobos 83-73.

PALM DESERT, Calif. – USC Men's Basketball (5-3) returned to Acrisure Arena for the third-place game in the Acrisure Classic as they took on the Lobos of New Mexico. What started as a close contest turned against the Trojans quickly even with their 14-point run late in the second half, resulting in USC losing 83-73 to the Lobos.

New Mexico scored the first basket of the game, but that didn't keep the Trojans from gaining some early momentum. With back-to-back three-pointers for Chibuzo Agbo and a driving layup from Josh Cohen, the Trojans secured an early four-point lead. The momentum gained in this stretch was short-lived as the Lobos retaliated with an eight-point run, allowing them to snatch the lead heading into the first media timeout. Once both teams returned to the floor, the Trojans notched three quick points before both teams went into a scoring drought that lasted more than four minutes. However, New Mexico was the first team to break the scoring dry spell, giving them the confidence to grow their lead from four to 13 in seven minutes. Cohen showed up big for the Trojans in the final two minutes of the half, scoring six points for his team. Even with that effort, USC went into the locker room down by nine as the score sat at 39-30 in favor of the Lobos.

The Trojans picked up where they left off in the first half with three baskets from Desmond Claude and Terrance Williams II to close the gap and get USC within four. However, the Lobos fought back quickly as they went on a 12-2 run, regaining control of this game yet again. Claude ended the five-minute field goal drought for the Trojans, but the Lobos did not allow USC to capitalize on this. New Mexico continued to add the pressure, going up by as many as 20 points with just six minutes left in the second half. This is when the Trojans picked up the pace. USC caused six turnovers in five minutes while going on a 14-2 run that helped them close the gap. Even with this push, there wasn't enough time left on the clock for the Trojans to finish the job as USC dropped their second-straight game with a score of 83-73.

NOTABLES

USC is now 7-7 all-time against the Lobos.
This is the first time the Trojans returned to a starting lineup they already did this season. They returned to their lineup against UT Arlington of Desmond Claude, Saint Thomas, Terrance Williams II, Josh Cohen and Chibuzo Agbo.
Playing in his 120th career game, Agbo dropped 13 points and tied his season-high in rebounds with seven. He also had two assists before fouling out late in the second half.
USC has given up 35-plus first-half points in seven of their eight games this season. This was also the third time USC has trailed at the half this season.
Josh Cohen registered double-digit points in his third-straight game. This is the fifth time he has done that this season and has been the first Trojan to do so in each of those games.
Four Trojans hit double-digits on Friday evening - Cohen (14), Claude (13), Williams II (11) and Agbo (13). USC is 2-1 this season when four Trojans score double-digit points.
Thirteen bench points marked a season-low for the Trojans. They were averaging 31.1 bench points per game before this game.
Matt Knowling played in his 90th career game on Friday evening against the Lobos.
USC is 0-3 this season when scoring less than 75 points in a game.

UP NEXT
The Trojans will start Big Ten play at the Galen Center as they take on the University of Oregon on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Fans who can't make it to Los Angeles can watch all the action on the Big Ten Network.