Alijah Arenas Delivers Ice-Cold Winner as USC Escapes Penn State in Thriller
Sometimes, it all comes down to one shot. And on Sunday, USC put the ball exactly where it needed to be - in the hands of its rising star, Alijah Arenas.
With the game tied at 75 and just seconds remaining, the Trojans had one final chance to avoid a costly slip-up on the road. Head Coach Eric Musselman called timeout, drew up a play, and trusted his freshman phenom to finish what he started. Arenas took the inbounds, attacked the lane, and banked in the go-ahead layup with 0.7 seconds left - a cold-blooded finish that sealed a 77-75 win over Penn State and kept USC’s NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
It was a full-circle moment for Musselman, who couldn’t help but recall a similar game-winning play he once ran for Alijah’s father, Gilbert Arenas, back in 2003 with the Golden State Warriors. Same action, same result - a clutch bucket when it mattered most.
“We ran a little zipper with the double stagger on a side that we’ve never worked on,” Musselman said postgame. “It brought back memories of his dad... same play against the Knicks. Same result.”
Arenas Steps Up Again - And USC Keeps Finding Ways to Win
That final possession capped off another standout performance from Arenas, who finished with 24 points and three triples, leading all scorers. It was the latest in a string of big-time outings from the freshman, who dropped 29 against Indiana just days earlier. With USC’s season in the balance, Arenas has emerged as the go-to guy - and he’s not shying away from the spotlight.
“Obviously, we wanted to put the ball in his hands at the end of the game,” Musselman said. “And I’m glad we got his iso at the top of the key.”
The win was more than just a highlight-reel moment - it was USC’s seventh victory in one-possession games this season. That 7-1 mark in close contests has been the difference between bubble talk and staying firmly in the NCAA Tournament mix. With the victory, USC improved to 18-6 overall and 7-6 in Big Ten play, climbing above .500 in conference action for the first time since early December.
And with a pivotal matchup against Ohio State looming, every win matters.
Kam Woods’ All-Around Impact Keeps Building
While Arenas continues to shine, graduate guard Kam Woods has quietly become the engine that keeps USC humming. Since stepping into the starting lineup on Jan. 28, Woods has averaged close to 20 points, three assists, and two steals per game - and he delivered another well-rounded effort against Penn State.
Woods finished with 13 points, nine assists, and four steals on Sunday, nearly notching his first double-double as a Trojan. His connection with Arenas was especially sharp, as several of his assists went straight to the freshman’s sweet spot.
But Musselman was quick to highlight Woods’ impact on the other end, too.
“Kam Woods has changed our entire season since he came,” Musselman said. “Kam leads our team in steals, and he joined us just a couple of weeks ago.”
Woods now leads the team in total steals - a testament to his intensity on defense and his ability to disrupt opposing guards.
Bench Answers the Call Without Baker-Mazara
USC didn’t just survive a tough road test - they did it without their leading scorer. Graduate guard Chad Baker-Mazara missed his first game of the season due to a Grade 1 knee strain suffered against Indiana.
The Trojans had leaned on him all year, with Baker-Mazara averaging over 30 minutes per game. But on Sunday, the bench stepped up.
Junior guard Jordan Marsh knocked down three triples to finish with 9 points, giving USC a much-needed perimeter threat when Penn State shifted into zone. Meanwhile, junior center Gabe Dynes made his presence felt in the paint, swatting four shots and pulling down a team-high seven rebounds in just 15 minutes.
“Off the bench, Jordan Marsh and Gabe Dynes gave us an absolutely huge lift,” Musselman said. “Dynes did a great job protecting the rim and altering shots. Marsh, especially when [Penn State’s defense] went zone, became a 3-point threat for us.”
That kind of depth is what USC will need as the grind of February continues. With four of the Trojans’ last five games being decided by one possession - including wins over Wisconsin and Indiana - every contribution counts.
Big Ten Battle Ahead
Sunday’s win was a statement, but the road doesn’t get any easier. USC heads to Columbus next to face Ohio State, with both teams sitting at 7-6 in Big Ten play and fighting to stay on the right side of the tournament bubble.
The Trojans are finding their identity at the right time - gritty, defensive-minded, and clutch when it matters most. And with Alijah Arenas stepping into the spotlight, Kam Woods anchoring both ends of the floor, and the supporting cast answering the bell, USC is starting to look like a team no one wants to face in March.
Wednesday’s showdown with the Buckeyes could go a long way in determining just how far this group can go.