USC Men’s Hoops Stays Perfect, Wins Maui Invitational Despite Injury Setback
USC men’s basketball is off to a red-hot start, and they’re doing it with grit, depth, and a little bit of drama. After junior guard Rodney Rice went down with a shoulder injury early in the second half of the Trojans’ second game at the Southwest Maui Invitational, it looked like USC’s momentum might finally hit a wall. Instead, they doubled down.
Rice had been pivotal in USC’s opening win of the tournament, sinking the game-winning free throw and scoring a season-high 27 points. And in the second game, he was instrumental in erasing a 13-point first-half deficit against Seton Hall before exiting just three minutes into the second half.
But even with Rice sidelined, the Trojans didn’t flinch. They rallied to beat Seton Hall and then took care of business in the championship game against Arizona State, a former Pac-12 rival. With that win, USC secured its first multi-team tournament title since the 2017 Diamond Head Classic and improved to 7-0 - their best start since opening 13-0 in the 2021-22 season.
Musselman’s Mentality: Confidence in the Face of Adversity
Head coach Eric Musselman summed it up after the championship: “Right now, we’re building a super confident mentality.” That mindset has clearly taken root. This was USC’s third time participating in the Maui Invitational (previously in 1999 and 2012), and their first time even reaching the title game.
Now ranked No. 24 in the latest AP poll - the first time they’ve cracked the rankings under Musselman - the Trojans are putting the rest of the Big Ten on notice.
Rice’s Statement Game Against Boise State
The tournament opener against Boise State was a showcase for Rodney Rice. The junior guard was electric, pouring in 27 points while shooting 57% from deep.
He played nearly the entire second half and came up clutch with a game-breaking sequence in the final moments. With 14 seconds left in a tied game, Rice split a double team and floated in a tough bucket through contact.
He hit the ensuing free throw to give USC a three-point edge - and ultimately, the 70-67 win.
Beyond Rice’s heroics, USC’s offense clicked from beyond the arc, knocking down 11 threes at a 48% clip. Meanwhile, their defense locked in on Boise State’s perimeter shooters, holding the Broncos to just 5-of-25 from deep - a point of emphasis in the lead-up to the game.
“Defending the 3 was certainly the priority,” Musselman said. “I thought we did a phenomenal job there.”
Ausar’s Free-Throw Masterclass Lifts USC Over Seton Hall
In Game 2, with Seton Hall coming off an upset win over then-No. 23 NC State, USC leaned on physicality, composure, and, most of all, senior forward Ezra Ausar. The Utah transfer was relentless, scoring 25 points - 15 of them from the free-throw line - and helping the Trojans edge out an 83-81 win.
Ausar, who leads the nation in free throws made per game, went 15-of-19 from the stripe. His ability to draw contact and convert was the difference in a game where USC made 31 of 38 free throws overall.
“I continued to get my repetitions in at the free-throw line and take my time,” Ausar said postgame - and it showed.
USC also dominated the glass, especially in the second half, out-rebounding Seton Hall by 13 and doubling them up on offensive boards. Musselman praised the effort: “We won the battle of the glass by 14 against a really physical team. I’m super pleased with our defensive effort on the defensive backboards.”
Baker-Mazara’s MVP Moment in the Championship
With Rice unavailable for the title game, USC needed someone to step up - and Chad Baker-Mazara answered the call in a big way. The graduate forward scored 23 points in the 88-75 win over Arizona State, capping off a tournament performance that earned him MVP honors. Across the three games, he totaled 52 points and was a steadying force throughout.
Baker-Mazara, who won the 2024 Maui Invitational with Auburn before transferring to USC, made history as the first player to win the tournament in back-to-back years with different teams.
“I really feel amazing right now. We got our job done,” he said. “I’m feeling on top of the world.”
And while Baker-Mazara was the headliner, Jaden Brownell delivered the spark. The graduate forward made the most of his minutes, scoring 16 points in just 15 minutes, including three big-time threes. His performance filled the void left by Rice and helped USC pull away late in what was a tight contest for most of the night.
“We knew, with Rodney being out, that somebody had to step up,” Musselman said. “Obviously, Jaden did that for us today.”
What’s Next: Big Ten Play Begins
USC’s non-conference statement is in the books, and now the real grind begins. The Trojans open Big Ten play on the road against Oregon, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at Knight Arena. It’s the first conference matchup for both teams - and a big early test for a USC squad that’s riding high.
With a 7-0 record, a tournament title in hand, and a top-25 ranking, the Trojans have momentum. Whether they can carry it into the rugged Big Ten slate will depend on how they handle adversity, especially if Rice remains sidelined. But if Maui was any indication, this team has the depth, toughness, and confidence to keep rolling.