University Southern California Trojans
Monday, November 2
Los Angeles, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT
USC
1-0,0-0Big Ten
95
vs
63
Milwaukee
0-1,0-0Horizon
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 29 | 34 | 63 |
| Southern California | 46 | 49 | 95 |
Photo by: John McGillen
November 02, 2026 | Men's Basketball
The Ratliff twins and Alijah Arenas led the way for the Trojans in a 32-point victory.
LOS ANGELES — The No. 21 USC Men's Basketball team routed the Milwaukee Panthers 95-63 on Nov. 2 at the Galen Center.
In USC's season opener, the Trojans (1-0), anchored by their tenacity on the defensive side of the floor, built up a 20-point lead in the first half and never looked back. The Trojans forced 17 turnovers and their balanced offensive output helped them lead by as many as 36 points midway through the second half.
Five players finished in double figures, led by freshman forward Adonis Ratliff, who finished with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Ratliff's 25-point performance is the most by a USC freshman in their debut since O.J. Mayo scored 32 points in his Trojan debut.
Alijah Arenas also poured in 21 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
The Panthers (0-1) had no answer for the Ratliff twins. Adonis and his twin brother, freshman center Darius Ratliff, were impactful on both sides of the floor, combining for 39 points and seven blocks in their collegiate debuts. Darius finished with 14 points and five blocks.
Through the opening five minutes, second-chance opportunities and a press fueled the Trojans' 10-5 lead with 15:25 remaining in the first half. Adonis and Arenas — four points each — carried the offensive load early on, scoring eight of USC's first 12 points.
USC's lead ballooned to 12 points with 11:32 left in the first half behind a 9-2 run. Darius drained a three to give the Trojans a seven-point lead nearly midway through the first half.
The Trojans' length defensively altered shots at the rim and caused six turnovers through the first ten minutes of the game. As a result, the Panthers shot just 35% from the field and coughed up nine first-half turnovers.
Darius led all scorers in the first half with 11 points and four first-half blocks. Adonis tallied seven first-half points and three rebounds. Arenas poured in 10 first-half points and snatched five rebounds through the first half.
USC never relinquished the lead Monday night and some timely shooting from beyond the arc by Trojans senior guard KJ Lewis helped USC maintain its 20-point lead throughout the first half. Lewis scored eight first-half points, including two 3-pointers. He finished with 10 points off the bench.
Early in the second half, Darius continued to put his imprint on the game. He found a cutting Arenas with an over-the-head, no-look pass for a layup to put the Trojans up 50-33 with 17:36 remaining in the second half.
The Trojans found their stroke from beyond the arc in the second half as they shot 8-for-13. Trojans senior guard Rodney Rice knocked down two 3-pointers in the second half, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and nine assists.
The Panthers were led by freshman guard Amare Hereford, who finished with 14 points.
Nine different USC players recorded at least one steal in the Trojans' 32-point win on Monday night.
USC will hit the road to face Wichita State in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic on Sunday, Nov. 8. The game will be broadcasted on the CW at 8 p.m. PT. All pertinent information will be on the men's basketball team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.
NOTES
QUOTES
Head Coach Eric Musselman on the Ratliff twins' shooting abilities…
"Their shot selection's been really good behind closed doors in practice and in exhibition games. When Adonis gets his feet set, he's as good a shooter as I've ever seen since I've been here. When NBA people come in and watch us, I think that the shooting for a seven-footer of his size is unique."
Head Coach Eric Musselman on the team's willingness to share the ball…
"Our chemistry has been really good. They're playing off each other. I think we had 198 passes tonight, so we were a couple of passes short of where we want to be, but when you have 25 assists in a college game, that's an incredible number."
Head Coach Eric Musselman on Rodney Rice's passing abilities…
"I thought in the first half he was almost a little too unselfish. I don't think he really looked to score. I thought in the second half, he got scored on and then I saw his eyes light up. Then he came down and hit three off the bounce. But his nine assists were huge, especially with the way that he can score the basketball. I thought he played really well. He usually has better scoring nights, but the assists were what the game called for tonight for him and our team."
Freshman forward Darius Ratliff on first collegiate basketball game…
"My first college experience was definitely eye-opening. We played a couple of exhibition games and we saw that there are certain things we need to work on. So we just got in the lab, worked on it, got in the film room and just came out and produced."
Sophomore guard Alijah Arenas on overcoming previous injuries and getting to play part of the season last year…
"It was amazing. It's a blessing that I get to have a full season this year. I'm just all around very excited to play. I have no complaints here about anything whatsoever."
In USC's season opener, the Trojans (1-0), anchored by their tenacity on the defensive side of the floor, built up a 20-point lead in the first half and never looked back. The Trojans forced 17 turnovers and their balanced offensive output helped them lead by as many as 36 points midway through the second half.
Five players finished in double figures, led by freshman forward Adonis Ratliff, who finished with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Ratliff's 25-point performance is the most by a USC freshman in their debut since O.J. Mayo scored 32 points in his Trojan debut.
Alijah Arenas also poured in 21 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
The Panthers (0-1) had no answer for the Ratliff twins. Adonis and his twin brother, freshman center Darius Ratliff, were impactful on both sides of the floor, combining for 39 points and seven blocks in their collegiate debuts. Darius finished with 14 points and five blocks.
Through the opening five minutes, second-chance opportunities and a press fueled the Trojans' 10-5 lead with 15:25 remaining in the first half. Adonis and Arenas — four points each — carried the offensive load early on, scoring eight of USC's first 12 points.
USC's lead ballooned to 12 points with 11:32 left in the first half behind a 9-2 run. Darius drained a three to give the Trojans a seven-point lead nearly midway through the first half.
The Trojans' length defensively altered shots at the rim and caused six turnovers through the first ten minutes of the game. As a result, the Panthers shot just 35% from the field and coughed up nine first-half turnovers.
Darius led all scorers in the first half with 11 points and four first-half blocks. Adonis tallied seven first-half points and three rebounds. Arenas poured in 10 first-half points and snatched five rebounds through the first half.
USC never relinquished the lead Monday night and some timely shooting from beyond the arc by Trojans senior guard KJ Lewis helped USC maintain its 20-point lead throughout the first half. Lewis scored eight first-half points, including two 3-pointers. He finished with 10 points off the bench.
Early in the second half, Darius continued to put his imprint on the game. He found a cutting Arenas with an over-the-head, no-look pass for a layup to put the Trojans up 50-33 with 17:36 remaining in the second half.
The Trojans found their stroke from beyond the arc in the second half as they shot 8-for-13. Trojans senior guard Rodney Rice knocked down two 3-pointers in the second half, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and nine assists.
The Panthers were led by freshman guard Amare Hereford, who finished with 14 points.
Nine different USC players recorded at least one steal in the Trojans' 32-point win on Monday night.
USC will hit the road to face Wichita State in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic on Sunday, Nov. 8. The game will be broadcasted on the CW at 8 p.m. PT. All pertinent information will be on the men's basketball team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.
NOTES
- The Trojans' 95 points were the most in a season debut under Head Coach Eric Musselman.
- USC shot 60% from the field and 61.5% from three in the second half. The Trojans would finish 56.9% from the field and 54.5% from distance.
- Adonis Ratliff's 25 points were the most by a Trojan freshman in their collegiate debut since O.J. Mayo scored 32 points in 2007. His five made threes were tied for the second-most by a Trojan under Head Coach Eric Musselman.
- Alijah Arenas finished with 21 points while shooting 9-for-14 from the field (64.3%), which was the most efficient scoring night of his career.
- Arenas also set a career high with eight rebounds, which led all players.
- Darius Ratliff finished with 14 points and five blocks, the latter of which was the most by a Trojan freshman in their collegiate debut since Onyeka Okongwu had eight blocks in 2019.
- In his first college basketball game since November 2025, Rodney Rice finished with 15 points, six rebounds and nine assists, the latter of which was one shy of his career high.
- KJ Lewis was USC's leading scorer off the bench with 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
- Nine different Trojans scored and recorded at least one steal. Arenas, Adonis Ratliff, Jalen Cox and Aaron Hunkin-Claytor all finished with two steals apiece.
- USC is 1-0 against Milwaukee and Head Coach Eric Musselman is now 1-0 against the Panthers.
- USC's first starting lineup of the season was Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas, Jacob Cofie, Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff. This lineup is 1-0.
QUOTES
Head Coach Eric Musselman on the Ratliff twins' shooting abilities…
"Their shot selection's been really good behind closed doors in practice and in exhibition games. When Adonis gets his feet set, he's as good a shooter as I've ever seen since I've been here. When NBA people come in and watch us, I think that the shooting for a seven-footer of his size is unique."
Head Coach Eric Musselman on the team's willingness to share the ball…
"Our chemistry has been really good. They're playing off each other. I think we had 198 passes tonight, so we were a couple of passes short of where we want to be, but when you have 25 assists in a college game, that's an incredible number."
Head Coach Eric Musselman on Rodney Rice's passing abilities…
"I thought in the first half he was almost a little too unselfish. I don't think he really looked to score. I thought in the second half, he got scored on and then I saw his eyes light up. Then he came down and hit three off the bounce. But his nine assists were huge, especially with the way that he can score the basketball. I thought he played really well. He usually has better scoring nights, but the assists were what the game called for tonight for him and our team."
Freshman forward Darius Ratliff on first collegiate basketball game…
"My first college experience was definitely eye-opening. We played a couple of exhibition games and we saw that there are certain things we need to work on. So we just got in the lab, worked on it, got in the film room and just came out and produced."
Sophomore guard Alijah Arenas on overcoming previous injuries and getting to play part of the season last year…
"It was amazing. It's a blessing that I get to have a full season this year. I'm just all around very excited to play. I have no complaints here about anything whatsoever."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballTeam Stats
MKE
USC
FG%
.371
.569
3FG%
.261
.545
FT%
.733
.708
RB
31
37
TO
17
14
STL
8
12
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
6
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
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