University Southern California Trojans
Friday, October 9
Greensboro, N.C.
4:00 p.m. PT
USC
0-0,0-0Big Ten
70
vs
88
North Carolina (Exhibition)
0-0,0-0ACC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California | 39 | 31 | 70 |
| North Carolina | 37 | 51 | 88 |
Photo by: Bryce Dechert
USC Men’s Basketball Drops Exhibition Game to North Carolina
October 09, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Three Trojans finished in double figures, led by Rodney Rice’ 22-point night.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — In its first preseason action of the 2026-27 season, the USC Men's Basketball team fell 88-70 to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Oct. 9.
Playing in a hostile, pro-UNC arena, the game featured seven ties and 14 lead changes until midway through the second half when the Tar Heels used a 12-0 run midway through the second half to pull ahead.
Making his return to action after missing most of last season, senior guard Rodney Rice stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points — on 7-for-15 shooting — three rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. Playing with him for the first time, Alijah Arenas finished with 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting as well. And while making his first collegiate start, Darius Ratliff was a force on both ends of the floor — especially in the first half — with 13 points, four rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
USC took an early 10-3 lead thanks to a 12-0 run with a barrage of threes — two from Rodney Rice and another from Darius Ratliff. Darius Ratliff impacted the game on both ends early: He had a block on one end, made a three on the other, then drew a shooting foul on the next possession. In the first half alone, Darius Ratliff had 11 points, three rebounds and a pair of blocks.
The Trojans held the Tar Heels scoreless for nearly five minutes but North Carolina clawed back into the game and eventually took a 23-22 lead with 8:33 to play. Alijah Arenas scored six straight points for the Trojans to help the team keep pace.
Late in the first half, the Trojans took a two-possession lead with a Jadis Jones layup and Adonis Ratliff's first three of the night to make it a 35-31 lead. However, North Carolina's Neo Avdalas scored five of UNC's final six points to tie the game at 37 before a Rice jumper gave USC a two-point lead after the first half.
North Carolina reclaimed a short-lived lead before threes from Rice and Adonis Ratliff put USC up 45-43 with 17:22 to play. The lead changed hands seven times before the first media timeout and neither team led by more than two points in that span.
After the first media timeout, USC's defense was the difference-maker. The Trojans forced turnovers on three consecutive possessions en route to taking a 53-49 lead. Yet the offense stalled for six minutes and the Tar Heels went on a 12-0 run to take a 61-53 lead with 9:16 remaining. While Arenas and Rice tried to keep the Trojans in the game, UNC held a double-figure lead for the final 3:41 to hand USC an 88-70 exhibition loss.
North Carolina shot better from the field (44% to 36%), won the rebounding battle 47-33, yet committed 18 turnovers to USC's 14. The Trojans would score 24 points off of UNC's 18 turnovers.
USC will play its next road exhibition game down south at UC San Diego on Saturday, Oct. 17. Tip-off on ESPN+ is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
NOTES
Playing in a hostile, pro-UNC arena, the game featured seven ties and 14 lead changes until midway through the second half when the Tar Heels used a 12-0 run midway through the second half to pull ahead.
Making his return to action after missing most of last season, senior guard Rodney Rice stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points — on 7-for-15 shooting — three rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. Playing with him for the first time, Alijah Arenas finished with 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting as well. And while making his first collegiate start, Darius Ratliff was a force on both ends of the floor — especially in the first half — with 13 points, four rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
USC took an early 10-3 lead thanks to a 12-0 run with a barrage of threes — two from Rodney Rice and another from Darius Ratliff. Darius Ratliff impacted the game on both ends early: He had a block on one end, made a three on the other, then drew a shooting foul on the next possession. In the first half alone, Darius Ratliff had 11 points, three rebounds and a pair of blocks.
The Trojans held the Tar Heels scoreless for nearly five minutes but North Carolina clawed back into the game and eventually took a 23-22 lead with 8:33 to play. Alijah Arenas scored six straight points for the Trojans to help the team keep pace.
Late in the first half, the Trojans took a two-possession lead with a Jadis Jones layup and Adonis Ratliff's first three of the night to make it a 35-31 lead. However, North Carolina's Neo Avdalas scored five of UNC's final six points to tie the game at 37 before a Rice jumper gave USC a two-point lead after the first half.
North Carolina reclaimed a short-lived lead before threes from Rice and Adonis Ratliff put USC up 45-43 with 17:22 to play. The lead changed hands seven times before the first media timeout and neither team led by more than two points in that span.
After the first media timeout, USC's defense was the difference-maker. The Trojans forced turnovers on three consecutive possessions en route to taking a 53-49 lead. Yet the offense stalled for six minutes and the Tar Heels went on a 12-0 run to take a 61-53 lead with 9:16 remaining. While Arenas and Rice tried to keep the Trojans in the game, UNC held a double-figure lead for the final 3:41 to hand USC an 88-70 exhibition loss.
North Carolina shot better from the field (44% to 36%), won the rebounding battle 47-33, yet committed 18 turnovers to USC's 14. The Trojans would score 24 points off of UNC's 18 turnovers.
USC will play its next road exhibition game down south at UC San Diego on Saturday, Oct. 17. Tip-off on ESPN+ is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
NOTES
- The Trojans' first starting lineup of exhibition play featured Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas, Jacob Cofie, Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff.
- Rodney Rice led the way with 22 points. He has scored in double figures in every game in a Trojan uniform.
- Three Trojans finished in double figures: Arenas, Rice and Darius Ratliff.
- Jacob Cofie led the team with seven rebounds to go along with his five points.
- All 11 available Trojans checked into the game, eight of whom made their first appearance in a USC uniform. Seven different players scored.
- The head coaching matchup between Eric Musselman and Michael Malone was a meeting between two former NBA head coaches who were also sons of NBA head coaches.
- USC is now 4-1 in exhibition games under Eric Musselman.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballTeam Stats
USC
UNC
FG%
.364
.441
3FG%
.333
.355
FT%
.667
.833
RB
33
47
TO
14
18
STL
11
7
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
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