The Southern California Trojans secured a hard-fought 78-75 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the Galen Center, with Ezra Ausar leading the charge. Ausar's 21 points and 7 rebounds were instrumental in USC's win, which was predicted by CHD Scout with a 9.2-point margin of victory. Although the actual margin was narrower, the prediction held true, with USC emerging as the victor.
The first half saw USC dominate, taking a 40-30 lead into the break. However, Rutgers refused to back down, mounting a strong comeback in the second half. Tariq Francis was the catalyst for the Scarlet Knights' resurgence, scoring 26 points and dishing out 5 assists. His efforts helped Rutgers outscore USC 45-38 in the second half, but ultimately fell just short.
USC's supporting cast played a crucial role in the win, with Chad Baker-Mazara contributing 17 points and 5 rebounds, and Jacob Cofie adding 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Trojans' balanced attack allowed them to maintain their lead, despite Rutgers' best efforts to close the gap.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The loss is a tough pill to swallow for Rutgers, who were looking to boost their tournament resume with a win over a top-50 team. Instead, the Scarlet Knights fell to 9-13 on the season, with their NET ranking remaining at 166. Dylan Grant's 14 points and 10 rebounds were a bright spot for Rutgers, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Trojans' strong performance.
For USC, the win marks a Quad 4 victory, which may not be the most impressive on their resume, but still counts as a positive result. The Trojans improved to 16-6 on the season, with their NET ranking sitting at 48. While this win may not significantly boost their tournament chances, it helps to maintain their position in the standings.
The implications of this result are clear: USC continues to build a solid resume, while Rutgers faces an uphill battle to improve their tournament prospects. With the loss, the Scarlet Knights' chances of making a deep postseason run appear increasingly slim. On the other hand, USC's win keeps them in the mix, although they must continue performing well against tougher opponents to make a significant impact on the tournament landscape. As the season enters its final stretch, both teams want to make a push, but for now, USC's win gives them a slight edge in the pursuit of postseason glory.