University Southern California Trojans
Wednesday, March 11
Chicago, Ill.
11:30 a.m. PT
USC
18-14,7-13Big Ten
79
vs
83
Washington
16-16,7-13Big Ten
1
2
OT 1
F
Southern California
40
31
8
79
Washington
33
38
12
83
USC Men's Basketball's Big Ten Tournament Run Ends Against Washington
March 11, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Kam Woods led the team in scoring with 24 points.
CHICAGO — USC Men's Basketball (18-14, 7-14 Big Ten) battled throughout the way, but fell to
Washington (16-16, 7-13 Big Ten) 83-79 in overtime in the second round of the TIAA Big Ten Tournament in Chicago on Wednesday, March 11.
The third meeting between the two teams was the closest. USC was up by 13 points in the second half, but the Huskies came back to force overtime, where they used a 7-0 run to win the game. Although USC limited Washington star Hannes Steinbach to 10 points and out-rebounded the Huskies 42-40, the Huskies connected on 11 three pointers and shot 37.9% from distance — well above the team's 31.5% season-average.
Led by Kam Woods' 24 points, five Trojans finished in double-figures. Jacob Cofie had 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting and led the team with nine rebounds and four blocks. Jordan Marsh chipped in 13 points off the bench while also adding nine rebounds. Ezra Ausar had 10 points, six of which came in the final four minutes, and Ryan Cornish finished with 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Squaring off against a shorthanded Washington team for the second time in the past week, USC needed a full team effort if it wanted to advance in the Big Ten Tournament. The Trojans got a huge lift from Ryan Cornish, who, after playing just 38 minutes over the last five games, entered the starting lineup and scored eight first-half points. His second pull-up three put USC up 12-8 before the first media timeout, but Washington responded quickly, swinging back in front.
The first half continued as a close affair with eight lead changes. Trailing 23-24 with 5:45 to play, Kam Woods and Ezra Ausar sparked a 13-4 run to go up 35-28 — the team's largest lead up to that point. USC finished the half going 7-for-8 from the field and took a 40-33 lead at half.
Kicking off the second half with five-straight points, the Trojans took a 45-33 lead before the Huskies got on the board. Both teams traded runs from that point forward, and the Trojans matched their largest lead of 13 points off a Woods free throw to go up 57-44 with 13:07 left to play.
But just like they did in the last meeting, the Huskies went on a 16-1 run midway through the half to take a 60-58 lead. Marsh nailed a three to put the Trojans back in front, yet the next few minutes would be frenetic and fast with both teams generating turnovers and having fast-break opportunities.
Trailing 66-63 with five minutes to go, USC rallied to keep the season alive. Kam Woods and Alijah Arenas found Ausar for three dunks, then Woods beat the shot clock buzzer with a midrange jumper to tie the game at 69 with three minutes to go. Then Jacob Cofie had an excellent sequence where he blocked Steinbach on one end, which led to Ausar's third dunk to put USC up 71-69. Washington's Courland Muldrew tied the game with 59 seconds left, and neither team could find the dagger for the rest of regulation.
Woods USC broke the 71-all tie in overtime with another floater before Marsh's and-one play with 3:27 to go gave the Trojans a 76-73 lead. Unfortunately for USC, the lead was short-lived. Washington went on a decisive 7-0 run over the next two minutes before Woods made a runner through contact and pulled the Trojans within one on the ensuing free throw. USC wouldn't get closer as Washington made key defensive stops and made late free throws to hand the Trojans an 83-79 loss.
NOTABLES
QUOTABLES
Coach Eric Musselman on the second-half struggles…
"In the first half, we played really well. That's been the story of our last eight games: We've started off really well. Over the last eight games, the biggest issue has been the second halves. We played good basketball, and we were in a good spot in the Big Ten standings and the NCAA bubble watch at that point. The last eight games have not been good, and it's basically been the second halves that have hurt us."
Coach Eric Musselman on the team's defense…
"I think when you look at our first-half defense, we held them to 36%. In the second half, from a field goal standpoint, they shot 41%. I thought with pick-and-rolls, there were a lot of breakdowns. I think the team followed what was asked of them, for the most part."
Jacob Cofie on the adversity the team faced this season…
"As a team, we faced a lot of adversity. I think we did a good job of sticking together and staying with it. We had to deal with a lot of injuries this year, but we did our best."
IN CONCLUSION
USC will end this season 18-14 overall and 7-13 in Big Ten play, exiting the Big Ten Tournament in the second round.
Washington (16-16, 7-13 Big Ten) 83-79 in overtime in the second round of the TIAA Big Ten Tournament in Chicago on Wednesday, March 11.
The third meeting between the two teams was the closest. USC was up by 13 points in the second half, but the Huskies came back to force overtime, where they used a 7-0 run to win the game. Although USC limited Washington star Hannes Steinbach to 10 points and out-rebounded the Huskies 42-40, the Huskies connected on 11 three pointers and shot 37.9% from distance — well above the team's 31.5% season-average.
Led by Kam Woods' 24 points, five Trojans finished in double-figures. Jacob Cofie had 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting and led the team with nine rebounds and four blocks. Jordan Marsh chipped in 13 points off the bench while also adding nine rebounds. Ezra Ausar had 10 points, six of which came in the final four minutes, and Ryan Cornish finished with 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Squaring off against a shorthanded Washington team for the second time in the past week, USC needed a full team effort if it wanted to advance in the Big Ten Tournament. The Trojans got a huge lift from Ryan Cornish, who, after playing just 38 minutes over the last five games, entered the starting lineup and scored eight first-half points. His second pull-up three put USC up 12-8 before the first media timeout, but Washington responded quickly, swinging back in front.
The first half continued as a close affair with eight lead changes. Trailing 23-24 with 5:45 to play, Kam Woods and Ezra Ausar sparked a 13-4 run to go up 35-28 — the team's largest lead up to that point. USC finished the half going 7-for-8 from the field and took a 40-33 lead at half.
Kicking off the second half with five-straight points, the Trojans took a 45-33 lead before the Huskies got on the board. Both teams traded runs from that point forward, and the Trojans matched their largest lead of 13 points off a Woods free throw to go up 57-44 with 13:07 left to play.
But just like they did in the last meeting, the Huskies went on a 16-1 run midway through the half to take a 60-58 lead. Marsh nailed a three to put the Trojans back in front, yet the next few minutes would be frenetic and fast with both teams generating turnovers and having fast-break opportunities.
Trailing 66-63 with five minutes to go, USC rallied to keep the season alive. Kam Woods and Alijah Arenas found Ausar for three dunks, then Woods beat the shot clock buzzer with a midrange jumper to tie the game at 69 with three minutes to go. Then Jacob Cofie had an excellent sequence where he blocked Steinbach on one end, which led to Ausar's third dunk to put USC up 71-69. Washington's Courland Muldrew tied the game with 59 seconds left, and neither team could find the dagger for the rest of regulation.
Woods USC broke the 71-all tie in overtime with another floater before Marsh's and-one play with 3:27 to go gave the Trojans a 76-73 lead. Unfortunately for USC, the lead was short-lived. Washington went on a decisive 7-0 run over the next two minutes before Woods made a runner through contact and pulled the Trojans within one on the ensuing free throw. USC wouldn't get closer as Washington made key defensive stops and made late free throws to hand the Trojans an 83-79 loss.
NOTABLES
- Kam Woods led all players on the floor in scoring, putting up 24 points. This was his second-best game of the season offensively. Woods also added a team-high seven assists, six rebounds and two steals.
- Jacob Cofie finished tonight's game with 14 points while shooting at a 57.1% clip from the field. He led the team in blocks with four, which is the ninth time this season he had at least three blocks in a game. He also tied the team-high in rebounds with nine.
- Jordan Marsh earned his 1,000th career point today against the Huskies, finishing the game with 13. Along the way, he also snagged nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. Marsh is now the fourth Trojan on the team to earn 1,000 points in their career.
- Ryan Cornish and Ezra Ausar were the other two Trojans to earn double-digit points in today's game as they both secured 10. Cornish also contributed three assists and a block while Ausar tallied seven rebounds and two assists.
- Following this game, USC is now 83-78 all-time against Washington and Coach Eric Musselman is 3-3 against the Huskies.
- With today's loss, USC is now 4-1 in neutral site games and 2-1 in overtime games this season. The Trojans are also 21-23 in conference tournament games
- Coach Musselman is now 11-9 in conference tournament games and 28-17 in all postseason play.
QUOTABLES
Coach Eric Musselman on the second-half struggles…
"In the first half, we played really well. That's been the story of our last eight games: We've started off really well. Over the last eight games, the biggest issue has been the second halves. We played good basketball, and we were in a good spot in the Big Ten standings and the NCAA bubble watch at that point. The last eight games have not been good, and it's basically been the second halves that have hurt us."
Coach Eric Musselman on the team's defense…
"I think when you look at our first-half defense, we held them to 36%. In the second half, from a field goal standpoint, they shot 41%. I thought with pick-and-rolls, there were a lot of breakdowns. I think the team followed what was asked of them, for the most part."
Jacob Cofie on the adversity the team faced this season…
"As a team, we faced a lot of adversity. I think we did a good job of sticking together and staying with it. We had to deal with a lot of injuries this year, but we did our best."
IN CONCLUSION
USC will end this season 18-14 overall and 7-13 in Big Ten play, exiting the Big Ten Tournament in the second round.
Team Stats
USC
UW
FG%
.449
.414
3FG%
.333
.379
FT%
.556
.737
RB
42
40
TO
13
11
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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