USC Falls to Northwestern in Alijah Arenas’ Debut, as Shooting Woes Continue to Plague Trojans
There was a quiet buzz around Galen Center on Wednesday night - the kind that comes with the arrival of a five-star freshman and the hope of a midseason reset. USC was fresh off a hard-fought battle with No. 4 Purdue, and now, with Alijah Arenas finally suiting up, there was a sense this might be the beginning of something new.
Instead, it turned into a night the Trojans will want to put in the rearview mirror - and fast.
USC dropped a 74-68 decision to Northwestern, a team that entered the night winless in Big Ten play. The loss marked the Trojans’ fourth in their last six games, but this one stung a little more. Not just because it came at home, or because it came against an unranked opponent, but because it came with the spotlight squarely on their newest star.
Alijah Arenas’ Debut: Flashes of Promise, But a Tough First Night
All eyes were on Alijah Arenas, the highest-ranked recruit of the Eric Musselman era. And early on, he delivered a glimpse of what makes him such a tantalizing talent.
After knocking down a baseline jumper for his first collegiate points, he followed it up with a highlight-reel 360 layup in transition. It was the kind of sequence that makes you sit up a little straighter in your seat.
But after that? It was a grind.
Arenas finished with 8 points on just 3-of-15 shooting. He missed all six of his three-point attempts and went 2-for-6 from the free-throw line. With USC’s offense sputtering and veteran guard Chad Baker-Mazara fouling out midway through the second half, Arenas was forced into a larger role than expected - and the Wildcats made him work for everything.
“He is a big-time player,” said Northwestern head coach Chris Collins after the game. “I’ve seen him in high school, and I’ve marveled at his talent, size, athleticism, and shot-making ability. He’s going to be playing basketball for a long, long time.”
There’s no question the talent is there. But on a night when USC desperately needed offensive rhythm, the freshman’s debut was more about growing pains than fireworks.
Baker-Mazara’s Early Exit Derails Offensive Flow
USC’s offensive struggles weren’t just about Arenas. Graduate guard Chad Baker-Mazara, the team’s leading scorer, looked poised for a breakout performance. In just 13 minutes of action, he knocked down both of USC’s made three-pointers and went a perfect 6-for-6 from the line, finishing with 14 points - third-most on the team despite barely playing.
Then came the fifth foul, and with it, a major shift in the game.
“That’s on Chad. He’s a sixth-year player… It’s unheard of,” Musselman said. “As a staff, you’ve got to do a way better job teaching guys to defend without fouling.”
Baker-Mazara’s foul trouble forced USC to lean heavily on Arenas, who logged 29 minutes in his debut. Musselman didn’t hide his frustration with how the night unfolded.
“Should [Arenas] have played less minutes? Maybe,” he said. “I didn’t walk in here tonight thinking Chad was going to play 13 minutes.”
Free Throws and Threes: The Numbers Don’t Lie
If there’s one stat that tells the story of USC’s night, it’s this: 17 missed free throws. The Trojans went 17-for-34 from the line, a season-worst performance that came just days after a 5-for-14 showing in their previous game. Add in a 2-for-14 night from beyond the arc - and just five total made threes across their last two games - and it’s clear the offensive issues run deep.
“We shot the ball horrific from three and shot the ball horrific from the foul line,” Musselman said bluntly. “Critical loss tonight.”
The struggles aren’t new. Since junior guard Rodney Rice was lost for the season in late November, the Trojans have been searching for answers on offense. But Wednesday’s performance was a low point - and the first time in this recent skid that they fell to an unranked opponent.
Marsh Shines, Ausar Delivers Offensively but Slips on Defense
Not everything was bleak. Junior guard Jordan Marsh continued his strong play off the bench, pouring in a team-high 19 points and going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. His ability to penetrate and get to the stripe was one of the few bright spots for USC.
“He did a great job getting into the teeth of the defense,” Musselman said. “Most importantly, I thought he did a good job defensively.”
Senior forward Ezra Ausar also chipped in with 17 points, going 4-for-7 from the field and 9-for-14 from the line. But his defensive lapses drew Musselman’s ire - particularly a pair of blown coverages, including one that led to a Northwestern bucket just before halftime.
“I cannot remember a player blowing two coverages like I saw tonight,” Musselman said. “I’m in shock about that.”
Ausar, to his credit, didn’t shy away from the team’s shortcomings.
“You make [practices] more intense, you practice better habits,” he said postgame. “That’s what we lack all around as a team - players and coaches.”
Road Ahead: A Midwest Test Awaits
Now sitting at 14-5 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play, USC faces a pivotal stretch. The Trojans hit the road for a two-game swing through the Midwest, starting with Wisconsin on Sunday and Iowa next Wednesday. Both teams are 14-5, and both present serious challenges - especially for a USC squad still trying to find its identity.
This was supposed to be the start of a new chapter. Instead, it served as a reminder that even with elite talent like Arenas in the mix, there’s work to be done - and fast - if the Trojans want to stay in the hunt in a competitive Big Ten.