USC’s Comeback Falls Just Short in Heartbreaker at Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa - USC Men’s Basketball gave fans a rollercoaster ride on Wednesday night, storming back from 17 points down only to fall in the final seconds, 73-72, to the Iowa Hawkeyes. It was a game that showed USC’s grit and explosiveness - and also the fine margins that can define a season.
With just 8.8 seconds on the clock, Jacob Cofie grabbed an offensive board and powered in a putback to give the Trojans a 72-71 lead. It was a moment that looked like it might cap off an improbable comeback.
But on the very next possession, a foul sent Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz to the line, where he calmly knocked down both free throws to retake the lead. USC had one last look at a game-winner, but the three-point attempt at the buzzer missed its mark.
The loss drops USC to 4-6 in Big Ten play and 15-6 overall, while Iowa improves to 5-4 in the conference.
Kam Woods Ignites
The brightest spot of the night was Kam Woods, who erupted for a career-high 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting. It was his breakout performance in a Trojan uniform, and he did it in style - pouring in 19 straight points during a second-half stretch that nearly flipped the game on its head. Woods also added three rebounds, three assists, and a season-high four steals, showing off a two-way effort that kept USC within striking distance.
His offensive outburst included a pair of clutch corner threes - his first makes from beyond the arc all season - and a personal 12-0 run that brought USC roaring back in the final minutes. It was a performance that reminded everyone what he’s capable of when he gets cooking.
Fast Start, Cold Middle, Furious Finish
USC came out of the gates hot, jumping to a 10-0 lead before Iowa even got on the board. The Trojans were aggressive early, with Ezra Ausar getting the scoring started and Chad Baker-Mazara knocking down a pair of jumpers. Jacob Cofie added a dunk, and the defense was locked in.
But the early momentum didn’t last. Iowa chipped away, and despite USC holding the Hawkeyes without a field goal for the first eight minutes, the Trojans couldn’t fully capitalize. Missed opportunities and turnovers allowed Iowa to hang around, and by halftime, USC’s lead was just one, 28-27.
Then came the third quarter blitz. Iowa opened the second half with a three and followed it up with a 16-2 run that saw the Trojans fall behind by as many as 17 points. At 53-36 with 13 minutes to play, things looked bleak.
But Woods wasn’t done. His late-game takeover brought USC back from the brink.
With the Trojans trailing 66-51 at the five-minute mark, Woods hit a free throw, then drilled back-to-back corner threes. Another jumper and a pair of free throws made it a one-point game with under a minute to play.
Cofie’s go-ahead putback had USC on the brink of a stunning win - until Iowa’s final free throws sealed the result.
Other Key Contributors
Chad Baker-Mazara continued his consistent scoring run, finishing with 13 points - his fourth straight game in double figures and 18th of the season. He also added two blocks and played a key role in USC’s early success.
Ezra Ausar chipped in 10 points and six rebounds before fouling out in the second half. Jerry Easter II grabbed seven boards, tying for the team lead with Cofie, who also added four points, an assist, and a block.
Despite shooting a blistering 52.8% from the field - well above Iowa’s 41.8% - USC couldn’t overcome a few key areas. The Trojans were out-rebounded 32-29 and saw their already-thin bench outscored 22-6. Injuries have taken a toll, and it showed in the second unit’s production.
Turnovers also played a role. Both teams finished with 15, but USC’s miscues - especially live-ball ones - led to easy Iowa buckets.
Assistant coach Earl Boykins pointed to that as a turning point: “It took us 30 minutes to figure out that you have to move without the ball, and you have to take care of the ball,” he said postgame. “Once we did that, we were able to make a run.”
Defensive Highlights, But a Painful Ending
Defensively, USC held Iowa to just 27 points in the first half - the second-fewest the Trojans have allowed in a first half this season, and one of Iowa’s lowest outputs as well. That effort, especially early, showed USC’s potential to lock down when engaged and communicating.
But the Trojans couldn’t quite string together stops late when they needed them most. Iowa’s final possession, and the foul that followed, was the difference between a signature road win and a frustrating one-point loss.
It was USC’s first one-possession loss of the season after previously going 5-0 in games decided by three points or fewer. That stat alone shows how close this team has been to flipping the script - and how important every possession is in Big Ten play.
What’s Next
USC now turns its attention back home, where a two-game stretch at the Galen Center awaits. First up: Rutgers on Saturday, January 31.
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. PT, with streaming available on Peacock and radio coverage on ESPN LA 710.
With the conference race heating up and the margin for error shrinking, every game matters. The Trojans have proven they can fight - now it’s about finishing.