Kam Woods Goes Supernova, But USC Falls Just Short in Heartbreaker vs. Iowa
With just under 10 minutes to play in Iowa City, it looked like USC men’s basketball was heading for another second-half collapse - something that’s become all too familiar this season. Down 17 points, the Trojans were fading fast. But then Kam Woods decided it wasn’t over.
The graduate guard put the team on his back and delivered one of the most jaw-dropping scoring runs you’ll see all season. Woods rattled off 19 straight points - yes, nineteen - to drag USC back into the game almost single-handedly. He gave the Trojans a real shot to steal a win on the road, and with under 10 seconds to go, it looked like they might just do it.
After Woods’ scoring spree pulled USC within one, a huge offensive rebound by sophomore forward Jacob Cofie led to a go-ahead layup, giving the Trojans a 72-71 lead with eight seconds left. But the celebration was short-lived. A foul by freshman guard Jerry Easter II on Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz sent the Hawkeyes’ senior to the line, and he calmly knocked down both free throws to seal a 73-72 win for Iowa.
It was a gut-punch of a loss - USC’s third in its last four games - and it dropped the Trojans to 15-6 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten play. They also slid down to 11th in the conference standings, swapping places with Iowa (15-5, 5-4).
“We’re definitely a resilient basketball team,” said assistant coach Earl Boykins after the game. “It’s just unfortunate that we didn’t come out with a win.”
A Night to Remember for Kam Woods
Woods was nothing short of electric. He played all 40 minutes, poured in a career-high 33 points, and was the engine behind USC’s furious second-half rally. He scored 27 of those points after the break, making his first two threes in a Trojan uniform and adding four steals to round out a monster performance.
“Kam, overall, is unbelievable,” Boykins said. “Of course, his 33 points were an outstanding offensive effort, but defensively, he was even better.”
To put it in perspective: Woods had scored fewer total points all season than he did in this one game. He found his rhythm when USC needed it most, and for a few minutes, it felt like he might will them to an improbable comeback win.
Injuries and Turnovers Continue to Haunt USC
Unfortunately for USC, Woods’ heroics weren’t enough to overcome a growing list of issues that have plagued this team all month - injuries, foul trouble, and turnovers.
Junior guard Jordan Marsh missed his second straight game with turf toe, despite being cleared pregame. That absence stung, especially with the Trojans already down two key contributors for the season: junior guard Rodney Rice and senior forward Amarion Dickerson.
Then came the foul trouble. Senior forward Ezra Ausar fouled out late, the second Trojan to do so in the last three games.
His 10-point night in 31 minutes was solid, but he struggled at the line, making just two free throws - tying a season low. Ausar remains one of just two healthy Trojans averaging double-digit scoring this season, putting up 15.9 points per game.
The other? Graduate forward Chad Baker-Mazara, who scored 13 points against Iowa but had a rough night handling the ball. He committed a career-high seven turnovers, part of a team total of 15 - a stat that now ties USC for third-most turnovers per game in the Big Ten.
“Not only were we turning the ball over,” Boykins said, “but they were getting steals and layups. You can’t have that.”
Freshmen Learning on the Fly
USC’s young backcourt is still finding its footing. Freshman guards Jerry Easter II and Alijah Arenas are talented, but the growing pains are real.
Easter’s night ended on a tough note with the late foul that led to Iowa’s game-winning free throws. Offensively, he struggled to get going, finishing with just two points (both from the line) and two assists in 24 minutes.
Arenas, meanwhile, showed flashes but couldn’t stay on the floor. He scored six points on 3-of-6 shooting but picked up three fouls in the first half, which limited his minutes. The highly touted recruit is still searching for his breakout moment and has yet to hit double digits in scoring during his first week of college basketball.
Looking Ahead
USC now heads back to the Galen Center for a two-game homestand that could help stabilize things after a rough January. First up is Rutgers - a team that’s been struggling mightily at 9-12 overall and 2-8 in Big Ten play - on Saturday. Then comes a marquee matchup Tuesday night against Indiana (14-7, 5-5), a game that could be pivotal for the Trojans’ postseason hopes.
There’s no question this team has fight. Woods’ performance proved that.
But if USC wants to climb back into the Big Ten mix, it’ll need more than just one-man heroics. Cleaning up the turnovers, staying out of foul trouble, and getting healthier - fast - will be key as the calendar flips to February.