Rutgers Heads West for Big Ten Showdown with USC After Gritty Effort Against Michigan State
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Big Ten’s new coast-to-coast reality has officially arrived for Rutgers men’s basketball. After navigating the Washington-Oregon swing last season, the Scarlet Knights are heading back out west-this time to California-for a two-game set against USC and UCLA.
First up: a Saturday night matchup with the Trojans at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
ET on Peacock.
This cross-country trip spans nearly 2,800 miles, but Rutgers is bringing some momentum with them-even if their last game didn’t end in a win.
Rutgers’ Resilience on Display
The Scarlet Knights are coming off one of their most complete performances of the season, despite falling in overtime to No. 7 Michigan State, 88-79.
Rutgers led for 36 minutes, riding a 17-0 points-off-turnover advantage early to build a 12-point lead. But the Spartans clawed back late, forcing overtime and ultimately pulling away.
Still, the effort was encouraging, especially considering it was Rutgers’ third overtime game at home in January-two of which ended in wins over Northwestern and Oregon.
What stood out most? Balance.
For the first time all season, all five Rutgers scorers hit double figures. And yes, you read that right-only five players scored, but they combined for an efficient 47% from the field (25-of-53).
- Tariq Francis led the way with 23 points.
- Harun Zrno knocked down four threes en route to 16 points-his third game this season with at least four triples.
- Jamichael Davis added 15, his best scoring output since November 25.
- Darren Buchanan Jr. chipped in 15 as well, marking his fourth double-digit game in the last eight.
- Dylan Grant rounded out the group with 11, his first time in double figures since January 2.
The Francis Factor
Tariq Francis has emerged as a scoring machine off the bench, and his impact can’t be overstated. Since shifting to a reserve role on December 20, Francis has scored at least 15 points in nine of ten games, including five 23-point outings. He’s averaging 18.7 points per game over that stretch, helping Rutgers post 29.7 bench points per game-second-best in the Big Ten.
Francis is also automatic from the line, shooting 88.5%-fifth in the conference and currently the sixth-best single-season mark in Rutgers history. Since joining the Big Ten, only one player in program history has done better.
Scouting USC
USC enters the matchup 15-6 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten play. The Trojans nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback win at Iowa on Wednesday, erasing a 17-point deficit in the final nine minutes to take a late lead. But Iowa sealed the deal at the free throw line, handing USC a 73-72 loss despite a furious 21-7 closing run.
The spark came from an unlikely source: Kam Woods, a fifth-year guard playing at his fifth school. Woods exploded for 33 points-27 of them after halftime.
Coming into the game, he was averaging just 3.1 points in eight appearances for USC this season, but his career tells a different story. Across stops at Troy, NC A&T, NC State, Robert Morris, and now USC, Woods has averaged 12.0 points in 105 career games.
USC is led by head coach Eric Musselman, now in his second year with the program. Musselman has built a reputation for quick turnarounds, with six NCAA Tournament appearances across stints at Nevada, Arkansas, and now Southern Cal.
This year, USC’s struggles have come almost exclusively in conference play. The Trojans were perfect in non-conference action, notching wins over Seton Hall, Boise State, and Arizona State, and started the season 12-1 with national rankings to show for it.
Statistically, USC is elite at getting to the line and protecting the rim. They rank top-15 nationally in both free throw attempts and makes per game, as well as in blocked shots.
Key Players to Watch
- Chad Baker-Mazara is USC’s go-to guy. A finalist for last season’s Small Forward of the Year award, he’s averaging 18.9 points per game and leads the Big Ten in free throw percentage at 90.4%. He’s played 140 career games across Duquesne, San Diego State, Northwestern Florida State, and Auburn (where he earned All-SEC honors last year).
- Ezra Ausar brings muscle and efficiency in the paint. The veteran forward, who previously played at East Carolina and Utah, has racked up 1,400 career points. He’s averaging 15.9 points this season while shooting over 60% from the field-among the Big Ten’s top three in both categories.
- Alijah Arenas, a five-star freshman and the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, made his debut as a starter against Northwestern on January 21. He’ll be one to watch as the season progresses.
A Brief History Between Rutgers and USC
Before last season, Rutgers and USC had only met twice-back in 1973 and 1974, both neutral-site wins for USC. But with USC now in the Big Ten, the matchup is becoming more familiar.
Last season, the two teams split their pair of meetings:
- Rutgers won the regular-season clash at Jersey Mike’s Arena, 95-85, behind a monster night from Dylan Harper (25 points, nine assists, six steals). It was the most points Rutgers has ever scored in regulation against a Big Ten team.
- USC got revenge in the Big Ten Tournament, winning a double-overtime thriller, 97-89. Harper again led the way for RU with 27 points.
Now, the series stands at 3-1 in favor of the Trojans.
What’s Next
After Saturday’s tilt with USC, Rutgers stays in Los Angeles to face UCLA on Tuesday night at iconic Pauley Pavilion. That one tips at 9:30 p.m. ET.
But first, it’s the Trojans. And if Rutgers brings the same energy and balance they showed against Michigan State, they’ll have a real shot to make some noise on the West Coast.