USC Men's Basketball Takes Down Rutgers In Double Overtime

Wednesday, March 12

Indianapolis, Ind.

5:30 p.m. PT

USC

16-16,7-13Big Ten

Rutgers

15-17,8-12Big Ten

OT 1

OT 2

Southern California

Rutgers

USC Men's Basketball Takes Down Rutgers In Double Overtime

March 12, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Tournament Central

The Trojans defeated the Scarlet Knights 97-89 to move on to the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.

INDIANAPOLIS – USC Men's Basketball (16-16, 7-13 Big Ten) kicked off the TIAA Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament this evening, coming in as the 14th seed. In the first round of the tournament, the Trojans took on the 11th seed in Rutgers University. After a thrilling double-overtime matchup between these two teams, it was the Trojans who came out victorious as they took down the Scarlet Knights 97-89.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Rutgers was the first team on the board after neither team scored for almost two minutes. But with Desmond Claude and Chibuzo Agbo, the Trojans evened the score quickly. Once that happened, both the Trojans and the Scarlet Knights couldn't get ahead of each other as no points were scored for two minutes. That was until Wesley Yates III sank back-to-back three-pointers, helping his team go on a 13-2 run over Rutgers. USC continued to build on their lead as they made four straight baskets to establish a 15-point lead. Even though the Scarlet Knights closed in on the Trojans, it wasn't nearly enough to take the lead as USC wrapped up the half with the 41-30 lead.

Claude kicked off the scoring for the Trojans in the second half, but not before the Scarlet Knights scoring two baskets. Rutgers didn't stop there. They went on an 11-point run to get within one of the Trojans. With the help of Saint Thomas, the Trojans stopped the bleeding, keeping a three-point advantage. Every time USC would score another basket to try and pull ahead, Rutgers would do the same as it remained a three-point game. Eventually, the Scarlet Knights took control of the game, exchanging the lead with the Trojans three times before jumping ahead by two. With 21 seconds left, the Trojans were down by four as they had to battle to keep their season alive. Two free throws from Yates and a layup from Claude tied this one up at 73-73 when the buzzer sounded, taking this game into overtime.

Through the first five-minute overtime, the Trojans and the Scarlet Knights duked it out again, going point-for-point. It wasn't until the second overtime period where a team started to pull ahead. The team that pulled ahead was USC. With the help of Yates and Claude, the Trojans went on an eight-point run that gave them all the momentum they needed to close out this game, resulting in their 97-89 victory.

NOTABLES

Tonight marked USC's first overtime game of the season and first double overtime win for USC since Feb. 24, 2022 when the Trojans beat Oregon State 94-91. USC is 12-9 all-time in double overtime games.
Four Trojans scored in double-digits against Rutgers - Desmond Claude (28), Wesley Yates III (24), Rashaun Agee (23) and Chibuzo Agbo (13).
Chibuzo Agbo turned in his first double-double of the season against Rutgers, recording 13 points and 10 rebounds. Agbo is the third Trojan to record a double-double this season, joining Desmond Claude and Rashaun Agee.
Playing in his 95th career game, forward Rashaun Agee recorded his second triple-double of the season, posting 23 points and 11 rebounds. Agee led USC in rebounds for the sixth time this season.
Wesley Yates III made a three-pointer for the 13th straight game. Yates' last game without making a three-pointer came January 22 against Nebraska. Yates also shot 100 percent from beyond the arc, going 4-4 against Rutgers.
Two Trojans were perfect from the charity stripe against Rutgers as Agee (7-7) and Yates III (6-6) both shot 100 percent from the free throw line.
Agbo, who scored 13 total points against the Scarlet Knights, officially surpassed 1,300 career points and now sits at 1,304 total.
With eight assists tonight, Desmond Claude officially surpassed 300 career assists (303 total). He also exceeded 1,200 career points (now 1,218 total).
Eric Musselman is undefeated (10-0) in conference tournament openers as a head coach.
USC held Rutgers scoreless for nearly five minutes in the first half, with the Trojans going on an 8-0 run in that time.
Agee and Agbo both scored in the double digits during the first half of play - Agee scored 12 while Agbo had 11.

QUOTABLES
Coach Eric Musselman on tonight's game…
"That's a game on why tournament play is so fun and exciting. Double overtime game with two teams that I thought both teams played really, really hard. Credit to Rutgers in their second half. Their press bothered us. But every game is a game of three runs, and we had one in the first half, they had one in the second half, and we were able to finish the game on a run. I thought our two defensive stops were crucial, down four with a minute something to go, so we could give ourselves a chance to play into the first overtime."

Coach Eric Musselman on Rutgers' press…
"It's not often that you have 21 turnovers and win a basketball game. Not only did we have 21 turnovers and win a basketball game, they took 17 more field goals attempted than us and we led for 35 minutes. You look at the stat sheet, and some wacky things, but I thought we were really efficient on offense when we didn't turn the ball over. We've been pretty good handling presses at times and other times struggled, but we won the game."

Desmond Claude on getting to the foul line…
"I think one thing when I first got here was to be a better point guard. So I think just me making the pass, especially in the first half, Shaun was hitting shots, Bu was always hitting shots. So I think that just opened up the lane. Once I got down there, we knew they were anxious leapers. Pump fake, come to two-foot stops, pivot, and I just got them in the air and went to their body and tried to score off of that."

Rashaun Agee on prepping for tomorrow's game…
"My body feels normal after a 40-minute game, double overtime. I feel good. I feel like what we need to do is ice bath, hydrate, get some rest, and focus on the next game."

UP NEXT
USC will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse again tomorrow, March 13, as they take on the sixth seed in No. 20 Purdue. The Trojans and the Boilermakers will begin approximately at 6 p.m. PT. Fans can watch the action on the Big Ten Network or listen on ESPN LA 710.