USC Men's Basketball Ends Non-Conference Play With 82-51 Win Over Jaguars

Sunday, December 22

Los Angeles, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

USC

9-4,1-1Big Ten

Southern

5-7,0-0SWAC

Southern U.

Southern California

Photo by: Bryce Dechert

USC Men's Basketball Ends Non-Conference Play With 82-51 Win Over Jaguars

December 22, 2024 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Press Conference

The Trojans head into the holiday break with their largest margin of victory this season.

LOS ANGELES – USC Men's Basketball (9-4, 1-1 Big Ten) came back to Galen Center for one more game in 2024 as they took on the Southern University Jaguars for the Trojans' last game of non-conference play. Turns out this game would be the fourth-straight win for the Trojans as took down the Jaguars 82-51.

USC caused four turnovers in two minutes to start this game as they took an early eight-point lead. From there, neither team scored for over two minutes, keeping the score at 12-4. This is when the Trojans changed the pace. Desmond Claude scored in the paint, which was immediately followed by a steal and a three-pointer from Wesley Yates III. This swung the momentum to USC as they went on another seven-point run. Even though the Jaguars tried to close the gap, the Trojans wouldn't allow it as they finished the first half with a 14-point lead as the score sat at 41-27.

Once the second half began, the Trojans' defense kept the Jaguars at bay as they went more than seven minutes without a field goal as USC grew their lead to 27. After the second timeout of the half, Southern picked up the pace. The Jaguars went on a 9-0 run, working to close the gap between them and the home team. But again, that was short-lived as USC hit another gear, going on a 16-2 to earn a 30-point advantage with less than three minutes left in the second half. That was all they needed to finish out this game. The Trojans wrapped up their final game of 2024 with their highest margin of victory this season as they head into the holiday break with an 82-51 win.

NOTABLES

Today's victory secured Coach Eric Musselman's 230th career win.
USC's 82-51 win over Southern marked the Trojans largest margin of victory this season, outsourcing the Jaguars by 31 points.
Playing in his 125th career collegiate game, Chibuzo Agbo led the Trojans in the first half with 18 points, shooting 4-6 from beyond the arc. His 18 first-half points were the most by a Trojan in a half this season.
USC's starting five remained the same for the fourth straight game - Desmond Claude, Saint Thomas, Wesley Yates III, Chibuzo Agbo and Josh Cohen.
USC's first points of the day came from Desmond Claude as the Trojan knocked down an early pair of free throws.
The Trojans held Southern to under 10 points for more than 12 minutes of the first half.
USC led 41-27 at the break. The Trojans are 8-2 this season when leading at the half.
Desmond Claude made a two-point hook shot jumper at the buzzer to put the Trojans up by 14 heading into halftime.
Josh Cohen, who scored 17 points in just 14 minutes played. Cohen also added on three rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block. If that wasn't enough, he also drew a team-high eight fouls on Sunday afternoon, which resulted in him making the most free throws he has made all season with nine (9-10).
USC scored 27 points off 19 opponent turnovers.
Second consecutive game with four out of five starters scoring in double digits - Desmond Claude (13), Wesley Yates III (11), Chibuzo Agbo (18) and Josh Cohen (17).
USC's largest lead of the game was 30 points as the Trojans led 74-44 with 4:59 remaining in the game.
Saint Thomas led the Trojans in rebounding for the third consecutive game (8) and ninth time this season. Thomas also had seven assists and two steals.
USC shot 80 percent from the charity stripe on Sunday afternoon, as the Trojans made 28 free throws against the Jaguars.

QUOTABLES FROM COACH MUSSELMAN
On Josh Cohen…
"Tonight, we got a pretty good lead. Josh had 17 points in 14 minutes. Josh's strength is scoring. But we just need Josh to rebound more. Tonight, he was super effective, and he has had an incredible attitude. He has been crucial to the way we start games."

On guards Desmond Claude and Saint Thomas…
"I thought Saint Thomas did a great job passing the basketball. Then you look at Desmond and he is doing the same thing. He is scoring the ball and scores 13 points on only seven attempts. His ability to draw fouls is super important. You have to give Southern credit. They are a high-steal team, and they switch their defenses up, so certainly, if there is one area we would like to get better at, it's taking care of the ball. Tonight, it was really the only hole we had."

On Chibuzo Agbo's performance…
"Buzo was great. The floor spacing and ability to make threes is super important to our team. They stayed a little more attached to him in the second half which gave him fewer opportunities."

UP NEXT
The Trojans will be off through the holidays before they pick back up with Big Ten play as they host the University of Michigan Wolverines for their first game of 2025. Tip-off will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4. Those who can't make it to the Galen Center can watch it on Fox.