USC Uses Second-Half Surge To Beat UTSA 97-70

Wednesday, December 17

Los Angeles, Calif.

6 p.m.

USC

11-1,1-1Big Ten

UTSA

4-7,0-0American

UTSA

Southern California

Photo by: USC Athletics 2025

USC Uses Second-Half Surge To Beat UTSA 97-70

December 17, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights Press Conference

Five Trojans finished in double-figures in USC's balanced offensive attack.

LOS ANGELES – Using a balanced offensive attack and a big second half, the USC Men's Basketball (11-1, 1-1 Big Ten) continued its three-game homestand with a win over the UTSA Roadrunners (4-7) on Wednesday evening.

The Trojans shook off a slow start before exploding in the second half by outscoring the Roadrunners 57-39 in the second half. Leading the way for USC, Ezra Ausar recorded his first double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds. He was one of five Trojans to finish in double-figures, joining Chad Baker-Mazara (20 points), Ryan Cornish (a season-high 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting), Jacob Cofie (12 points) and Jordan Marsh (11 points).

As a team, USC shot 55.0% from the field while holding UTSA to shooting just 34.9% — the team's fourth-lowest mark of the year. The Trojans scored 42 of their 97 points in the paint, and the bench outscored UTSA's 21-14.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Facing a UTSA team that was playing against its third consecutive Power-4 opponent, USC shook off a sluggish start thanks to its bench. While the Roadrunners sank early threes and forced turnovers, the Trojans took their first lead of the afternoon thanks to eight-straight points from Jerry Easter II and Jaden Brownell to put USC up 16-12.

However, the Roadrunners hung with the Trojans while USC went over four minutes without a made field goal. Although Ryan Cornish snapped the scoring drought with a corner three — his second of the evening — to put USC up 22-20 with less than eight minutes to go, UTSA would reclaim the lead and force the Trojans to play from behind.

Trailing 31-27 with 3:36 to go, USC flipped the script, forcing five late turnovers to close the half on a 13-0 run.

Cornish kicked off the run by Euro-stepping past his defender for a right-handed layup, then Ausar battled underneath and drew fouls for the next four points. Chad Baker-Mazara checked in and was productive on both ends of the floor: First, he forced a turnover in the key before making a tip-in dunk on the other end. Then on the next possession, Baker-Mazara found Marsh for a corner three before Marsh capped off his personal 5-0 run with a fast-break layup on the next possession.

Leading 40-31 after the break, the Trojans kept their foot on the gas thanks to Baker-Mazara. The senior wing scored seven of USC's first nine points of the second half by getting to the line and by making a step-back three with 17:31 to go that put USC up 49-36.

Five straight points from Marsh gave the Trojans a 56-42 lead with 14:23 to go, and they didn't look back. As the tempo quickened, USC went on a 14-2 run midway through the half, bolstered by threes from Terrance Williams II and Cornish, who sank his third three of the game to put USC up 68-47 with 11:35 remaining.

Then the floodgates opened for USC. Ausar fired up the USC bench with not one, but two alley-oops before Baker-Mazara nailed a three to increase the lead to 27. The Trojans maintained their 20-point lead for the rest of the way. USC led by as many as 29 points thanks to a Jacob Cofie dunk that capped off a 5-0 run and made the score 84-55. Cofie and Cornish combined to score USC's final 13 points in the 97-70 win.

NOTABLES

Ezra Ausar earned his first double-double of the season and ninth of his career against the Roadrunners, ending the game with 22 points and 10 rebounds. With those 22 points, Ausar had his fifth game this season in which he scored at least 20 points. This is also the 11th time in 12 games that he outscored himself in the second half.
Chad Baker-Mazara hit a career milestone, surpassing 1,400th career points, as well as providing his 250th career assist. Wednesday night marked his fifth occasion with 20 or more points this season and his sixth game with three or more assists. He ultimately filled the stat sheet with 20 points and five assists.
Ryan Cornish set season-highs across all categories, scoring 18 points on four made three-pointers. He also recorded season-highs in boards (3) and steals (3) while registering his first block of the season against UTSA.
Terrance Williams II hit a new career milestone as he grabbed his 500th rebound, finishing the game with four boards. He also logged a season-high three assists.
Jacob Cofie tied his career-high of three steals tonight for the third time this season, ending the game with 12 points and two blocks.
The Trojans' 17-0 run from 3:23 left in the first half to 19:14 in the second half was their largest scoring run of the season.
This is USC's fourth game with five Trojans contributing double-figures. Wednesday was also the second game this season where every player who logged minutes scored.
USC is now 2-0 all-time vs UTSA, and Musselman is now 1-0 against the Roadrunners.
Today's starting lineup featured Ezra Ausar, Chad Baker-Mazara, Terrence Williams II, Ryan Cornish and Jacob Cofie. This lineup is 1-0 on the season.

QUOTABLES
Coach Eric Musselman on Ryan Cornish's breakout performance…
"He's been way more talkative. If you're going to be a guard, you have to talk and communicate with your teammates, and you want leadership out of that position. And he's given us all those things, and he's earned it. Nothing was handed to Ryan at USC."

Coach Eric Musselman on tough conference play ahead…
"We're the only [Big Ten team] that has a three-game road trip. And it's coming right out of the break. So we got a lot of stuff, but if we play like we did in the second half, I see growth, I see potential, I see positives."

Coach Eric Musselman on uniting the team despite injuries…
"I give that locker room so much credit for not feeling sorry for themselves, for coming to practice and working and knowing moving forward, we've got a lot. We've got to get a lot better. But you know what the great thing is? Next time we practice, Alijah's practicing. That's a great thing."

Ryan Cornish on having his best game of the season…
"It means a lot, but most importantly, is the fact that we won and won by a considerable amount. So hopefully we can get into the top 25, and honestly, at the end of the day, we're just trying to make it to the tournament. So, whatever I can do to help the team, that's all I care about."

Ezra Ausar on finding a leadership role on the team…
"My team counsels me a lot about leadership and being a voice for the team because of how my work ethic has improved. My energy is contagious. Once I'm going, everybody's going and vice versa. If my team is going, I'm going, so if my energy isn't right, my team's energy isn't right. For me, it's about overcoming a lot of things, especially when it comes to emotions. Emotionally, you can get down on yourself, but at the end of the day, you still have to be a leader for those who surround you and look up to you."

Ryan Cornish on drawing charges…
"Being able to take charges is something I learned early in high school and I kind of take pride in that. I've even broken plenty of bones taking charges, and I still keep taking them — my mom hates it — but I either have to defend the guy, stand in front of him, or I have to take a charge."

Ezra Ausar on having to step up because of the team's missing players…
"Knowing that you don't have those guys makes you know that you have to turn the intensity up a little more because you have to cover up for what those guys were doing for us on the floor. It just becomes about habits. You have to practice harder; that way, when the game comes, it's simple. But even though those guys are out, their energy is still contagious because they're still on the roster and they still have to sit on the bench, encourage us, and motivate us. Having those guys still there with us means a lot."

UP NEXT
USC wraps up its non-conference homestand with a game against UC Santa Cruz on Sunday, Dec. 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Fans can watch on Big Ten Network or listen through ESPN LA 710.