Rutgers’ Rally Falls Just Short Against USC in Gritty Finish
For the second time in five games, Rutgers found itself digging out of a deep hole-and once again, the comeback came up just short. Down by 19 in the second half, the Scarlet Knights clawed their way back into striking distance against USC, only to see their final possession slip away in the closing seconds. A last-second turnover with under five ticks left sealed a 78-75 win for the Trojans in what turned into a wild finish in Los Angeles.
The game opened with promise for Rutgers, as Kaden Powers got them on the board first. The early minutes were a grind-it-out battle in the paint, with eight of the first ten points coming right at the rim.
But USC started to assert itself inside, and Jacob Cofie’s and-one bucket midway through the first half gave the Trojans a 9-4 lead. From there, the Scarlet Knights’ offense sputtered, and by the 10-minute mark, they trailed 20-11.
Rutgers started to find a bit of rhythm offensively as the first half wore on, but their inability to protect the paint kept them from gaining ground. USC capitalized inside, racking up 24 points in the paint before halftime and heading into the locker room with a 40-30 lead.
Coming out of the break, USC wasted no time extending that cushion. Alijah Arenas opened the second half with a three-pointer, and the Trojans caught fire from deep, stretching their lead to 51-32. That 19-point deficit triggered a timeout from Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell with just over 16 minutes to play, as the game looked like it might slip away for good.
But Rutgers didn’t go quietly. They kept chipping away, and while they couldn’t mount a serious threat until late, the Knights showed plenty of fight.
With under two minutes left, they had finally closed the gap to a one-possession game. Then came the moment: down three, ball in hand, clock winding down.
But instead of a game-tying shot, a costly turnover by Tariq Francis ended the rally and handed USC the win.
This loss echoes a familiar pattern for Rutgers-falling behind big, then playing inspired basketball late to nearly pull off the improbable. That formula might make for dramatic finishes, but it’s a tough way to win consistently. The Knights are going to need more complete performances if they want to turn close calls into victories.
USC’s dominance in the paint was a major storyline. The Trojans outscored Rutgers by 12 inside, shot a blistering 51% from the field, and won the rebounding battle by seven. Ezra Ausar led the way with 21 points, while Cofie delivered a strong two-way performance, notching a double-double.
Still, Rutgers had bright spots. They won the turnover battle decisively, coughing it up nine fewer times than USC. They also grabbed five more offensive rebounds and turned those into 12 more second-chance points-a testament to their hustle and effort, especially in the second half.
Individually, Dylan Grant posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards, while Francis continued his scoring tear, pouring in a game-high 26 points. His turnover in the final seconds will sting, but his offensive production kept Rutgers in the game when they needed it most.
The Scarlet Knights won’t have much time to dwell on this one. They stay out west to face UCLA on Tuesday night, with tip-off set for 9:30 p.m.
EST on Big Ten Network. If they can put together a full 40-minute effort, that elusive road win might not be far off.