USC Rallies Late to Stun Wisconsin on the Road, 73-71
MADISON, Wis. - USC men’s basketball just delivered one of its gutsiest wins of the season, and they did it in one of the Big Ten’s toughest environments. The Trojans clawed back from a double-digit second-half deficit to knock off Wisconsin, 73-71, at the Kohl Center on Sunday - handing the Badgers just their second home loss of the year.
This one had all the makings of a statement game. USC didn’t dominate the glass, didn’t shoot the lights out, and trailed by as many as 12 in the second half. But what they did do was defend - and when it mattered most, they executed.
Defense Turns the Tide
USC’s second-half defense was the difference. After giving up 41 first-half points, the Trojans locked in and held Wisconsin to just 30 in the final 20 minutes. The Badgers shot a rough 25.7% from the field after halftime and finished the game at just 34.3% overall - well below their season averages.
The Trojans weren’t perfect - they lost the rebounding battle 42-41 and had stretches where the offense stalled - but their ability to string together stops and make timely plays down the stretch was the story.
Chad Baker-Mazara Shines Again
Chad Baker-Mazara was the engine that kept USC afloat early and helped seal the win late. The senior wing dropped 29 points - tying the game-high - on 10-of-22 shooting, including five made threes. He was a walking bucket in the first half, scoring 13 points in just 12 minutes, and when the Trojans needed a spark late, he delivered again with a clutch runner to beat the shot clock and push USC’s lead to four with under a minute left.
This marks his ninth 20-point game of the season and extends his free throw streak to 18 straight makes after a perfect 4-for-4 day at the line. He also added four rebounds and three assists in a complete performance.
Ausar and Cofie Bring the Grit
Ezra Ausar was a force in the final five minutes. Battling through injuries to his back and ankle, the junior forward scored six of his 17 points in crunch time, including a key putback with under three minutes left that gave USC the lead for good. He also chipped in seven rebounds and matched his season-high with two blocks.
Jacob Cofie, meanwhile, continued his recent tear on the glass. The freshman big man pulled down 11 rebounds - his third straight game with double-digit boards - and nearly posted a double-double with nine points. He also tied his career-high with five assists, showcasing his growing versatility in the frontcourt.
Cofie’s work on the boards was especially critical as USC tried to weather a first-half storm of second-chance points from Wisconsin, who scored 12 of them off seven offensive rebounds before halftime.
How It Happened
USC came out of the gates clicking on offense. Four of the five starters scored in the opening five minutes, and Baker-Mazara caught fire early with eight straight points to help build a 19-9 lead. But Wisconsin battled back, riding a hot stretch from Nick Boyd - who had 16 in the first half - and a barrage of late threes to close the half on a 10-1 run and take a 41-39 lead into the break.
The Badgers picked up where they left off to start the second half, going on a 9-0 run that stretched their lead to 50-44. They pushed it to 58-46 midway through the half as USC went ice cold, missing 12 of 13 shots during that stretch.
But the Trojans didn’t fold.
A putback from Cofie broke the drought, and from there, USC chipped away. A 13-2 run - powered by stops, hustle plays, and timely buckets - brought the Trojans back within striking distance. Baker-Mazara’s five straight points gave them a 62-60 lead, their first of the second half.
From that point on, it was a back-and-forth battle. Ausar’s late surge gave USC just enough breathing room, and freshman Jerry Easter II made two clutch free throws after breaking up a potential game-tying layup from Boyd in the final seconds. Wisconsin would score at the buzzer, but it was too little, too late.
Notables
- USC is now 5-0 in one-possession games this season, one of just three Big Ten teams with a perfect record in such contests.
- Baker-Mazara's 29 points tied his season-high in made threes (5) and marked his ninth 20-point game of the year.
- Jacob Cofie became the first Trojan since Isaiah Mobley (Dec. 2021) to record three straight games with 10+ rebounds.
- Ezra Ausar extended his double-digit scoring streak to 11 games and continues to be a steady two-way presence.
- USC held Wisconsin to 34.3% from the field and 24.3% from three, both well below the Badgers’ season averages of 45.8% and 34.9%, respectively.
- This was USC’s first win over Wisconsin since 1982, evening the all-time series at 3-3.
Musselman’s Take
Head coach Eric Musselman didn’t mince words after the game. “Obviously, a huge win,” he said.
“Chad was phenomenal down the stretch. Our bigs did a great job… Jerry Easter was phenomenal for us.
The two free throws were huge; the defense was huge.”
On Cofie and Ausar: “Jacob on the boards has been absolutely phenomenal… Ezra, he’s really banged up, but he grinded through a game where many players wouldn’t have played.”
Up Next
The Trojans stay in the Midwest for another Big Ten road test, heading to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tipoff is set for Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. PT, with coverage on the Big Ten Network and the USC Game Day app.
If this comeback win is any indication, USC is starting to find its identity - and it’s one built on grit, defense, and timely execution. In a Big Ten race that’s wide open, that formula travels.