Alijah Arenas Shines Bright as USC Holds Off Indiana in Statement Win
LOS ANGELES - It was only a matter of time before Alijah Arenas had his moment. On Tuesday night at the Galen Center, the highly touted freshman delivered in a big way, dropping a team-high 29 points to lead USC past Indiana, 81-75, in a game that showcased both his scoring instincts and his flair for the dramatic.
From the jump, Arenas looked ready. In just his fifth collegiate game - and still shaking off the rust from an injury-delayed debut - the 6-foot-6 guard wasted no time announcing himself, hitting his first shot of the night: a confident three-pointer before the five-minute mark.
But it was a deep, high-arcing triple late in the second half, with Indiana clawing back and the Trojans’ lead down to five, that really lit up the building. As the ball swished clean through the net, Arenas turned and let out a roar - a moment that felt like the official arrival of USC’s next star.
Arenas finished 9-of-23 from the field, 6-of-7 from the line, and added five rebounds - a stat line that only tells part of the story. He created offense from all three levels, wasn’t afraid of contact, and stepped up when the game demanded it most.
And he didn’t do it alone.
Kam Woods chipped in 18 points on efficient 50% shooting and added a pair of steals, bringing energy on both ends. Ezra Ausar added 12 points and seven boards, while Jacob Cofie contributed nine points in a physical battle that was won largely in the paint.
For USC (17-6 overall, 6-6 Big Ten), the game turned early with a clear point of emphasis: own the paint. It took about five minutes for the Trojans to start asserting themselves around the rim, and once they did, they never really let up. By the final buzzer, 28 of their points had come in the paint - a testament to their physicality and willingness to grind out buckets inside.
Chad Baker-Mazara sparked the first real run of the night, knocking down back-to-back threes to give USC an 11-8 edge. From there, the Trojans tightened things up defensively, especially along the perimeter - a necessary adjustment against an Indiana team that typically knocks down over 10 threes a game. The Hoosiers hit their average with 10 made triples, but USC’s pressure led to key moments, including a shot clock violation midway through the first half.
Indiana (15-8, 6-6) didn’t go quietly. Lamar Wilkerson, who led all scorers with 33 points, hit a three on the Hoosiers’ next possession after that violation, and Jasai Miles followed with a jumper to keep things tight.
But USC’s interior defense, led by 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes, made sure Indiana never fully seized momentum. Dynes pulled down a key defensive rebound and blocked a shot on the same sequence to deny the Hoosiers a chance to tie or take the lead.
By halftime, he’d already tallied six rebounds and three blocks - anchoring a defense that held firm despite some late-half shooting struggles.
USC didn’t make a field goal in the final five minutes of the first half, but they made up for it at the line, sinking five free throws to take a 35-30 lead into the break.
Then came the second-half surge.
Arenas continued to find his spots, using strength and body control to finish through contact - including a three-point play that pushed the lead to 52-41. Woods followed with a pair of threes during a 12-2 run that gave USC some breathing room. One of those came after he found himself wide open in the corner, calmly gathering himself before drilling it to extend the lead.
But the Trojans had to navigate some adversity too.
Baker-Mazara, one of USC’s most reliable shooters and their best free-throw option, left the game early in the second half with what appeared to be a right leg injury after a blocked layup attempt. Though he returned to the bench later, he didn’t re-enter the game. Meanwhile, both Ausar and Cofie fouled out in the final minute, forcing USC to lean even more heavily on Arenas and Woods to close things out.
Indiana made one final push. A layup from Tayton Conerway trimmed the deficit to just two, 75-73, with under a minute to go.
But USC stayed composed. Four clutch free throws down the stretch and a timely block from Ryan Cornish in the final 24 seconds sealed the win.
This was more than just another conference victory for USC. It was a coming-out party for Arenas, a gritty team win in the face of injury and foul trouble, and a reminder that when this group locks in - especially defensively - they’re tough to beat.
And if this is just the beginning for Alijah Arenas, USC fans have a lot to be excited about.