USC Grinds Out Win Over Washington State Behind Cofie's Double-Double and Defensive Grit
LOS ANGELES - It wasn’t always pretty, but it was plenty effective. USC men’s basketball improved to 10-1 on the season with a hard-fought 68-61 win over Washington State at the Galen Center on Sunday night. The Trojans leaned on their interior presence, physicality, and timely defense to fend off a feisty Cougars squad that refused to go quietly.
Let’s break it down.
Owning the Paint, One Possession at a Time
This one was won in the trenches. USC outscored Washington State 32-22 in the paint and muscled its way to the free-throw line 34 times, converting 27 of those attempts. That kind of physicality was the difference in a game where both teams shot just over 39% from the field - not exactly a shootout, but a grind-it-out battle where toughness mattered most.
The Trojans also controlled the glass, outrebounding WSU 35-28. That edge on the boards, especially on the defensive end, helped limit second-chance opportunities for the Cougars and allowed USC to control the tempo when things got tight.
Jacob Cofie Sets the Tone Early - and Often
Jacob Cofie didn’t waste time making his presence felt. The sophomore forward opened the scoring with a dunk and poured in eight of USC’s first 10 points. By halftime, he had already tallied 14 of his game-high 21 points, shooting a scorching 7-for-8 from the field in the first 20 minutes.
But it wasn’t just his scoring that stood out - it was his activity on both ends. Cofie finished with 10 rebounds, including a career-best nine on the defensive glass, earning his third double-double of the season. He was aggressive, decisive, and exactly the kind of interior anchor USC needed to weather the Cougars’ second-half push.
Baker-Mazara Delivers in the Clutch
Chad Baker-Mazara continues to be one of USC’s most reliable two-way players. The senior guard scored 19 points and was perfect from the stripe, going 11-for-11 - the third time this season he’s hit double-digit free throws. Beyond the scoring, he chipped in six rebounds, five assists, and a pair of blocks, including a momentum-killing chase-down swat with just over a minute to go that all but sealed the win.
The stat sheet tells one story, but Baker-Mazara’s impact was even bigger in the moments that don’t always make the highlight reel - helping space the floor, facilitating in transition, and bringing intensity on defense when USC needed stops.
Marsh, Ausar, and Brownell All Step Up
Jordan Marsh quietly orchestrated the offense with poise, tying his season high with five assists and knocking down a key three in the second half. He also ended a four-minute field-goal drought with a crafty layup that helped USC regain control when the game was hanging in the balance.
Ezra Ausar added 13 points and five rebounds, continuing his streak of scoring in double figures in nine of USC’s 11 games this season. He drew contact consistently and helped USC get into the bonus early, though he wasn’t satisfied with his free-throw attempts after the game - a sign of a player who’s hungry to do more.
Jaden Brownell also made his presence felt, pulling down a season-high five rebounds and knocking down some clutch free throws late in the second half.
The Game Within the Game
The turning point came midway through the first half. With the game tied at 11, USC rattled off a 15-0 run that was fueled by defense and transition scoring. Cofie and Baker-Mazara combined for 13 of those points, and the Trojans built a cushion that would prove critical down the stretch.
Washington State clawed back into it with a barrage of threes late in the first half and again early in the second, cutting the lead to just one at 34-33. But every time the Cougars got close, USC found an answer - whether it was a three-point play by Ausar, a lob finish by Cofie, or a timely bucket from Marsh.
And when it mattered most, USC’s defense showed up. The Trojans held Washington State to just 39.6% shooting - the Cougars’ second-lowest mark of the season - and limited them to one of their worst rebounding performances of the year.
Coach Musselman: “We Had to Grind It Out”
After the game, head coach Eric Musselman acknowledged that this one wasn’t about offensive fireworks.
“Our offensive metrics are phenomenal, and our defensive metrics - especially the last six games - have not been good,” Musselman said. “But tonight, the real positive is we had to grind the game out when we weren’t scoring and shooting very well.”
He also praised Cofie’s assertiveness, saying the team made a point to get him involved early. “We needed him to be an aggressive offensive player, and he was great on the glass, too.”
Eyes on the Rankings, But Focused on the Mission
Both Cofie and Ausar spoke postgame about the importance of rankings - and the desire to earn back respect. Cofie said the team believes it deserves to be ranked again and is focused on proving it. Ausar echoed that sentiment but emphasized that every game is about beating the team in front of them.
“I’ve never been ranked in college before, so it matters to me,” Ausar said. “But at the end of the day, we’re trying to accomplish our one goal - to beat the team in front of us every night.”
Final Takeaways
- **USC improves to 10-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play. **
- **Jacob Cofie records his third double-double with 21 points and 10 boards. **
- **Chad Baker-Mazara goes 11-for-11 from the line and adds 19 points. **
- **USC dominates the paint and wins the rebounding battle. **
- **The Trojans hold Washington State to under 40% shooting and just 28 rebounds. **
This win wasn’t about style points - it was about grit, execution, and finding ways to win when the shots aren’t falling. And for a team with big goals this season, that kind of toughness travels.