Ezra Ausar helps USC hold on for a win over | College News
In a recreation outlined by all-around environment friendly capturing, USC held on for a 78-75 win over Rutgers Saturday night time at Galen Center after practically surrendering a 19-point lead.
USC star freshman Alijah Arenas continued to adapt after lacking a lot of the season recovering from injury.
With Rodney Rice out for the season, the Trojans (16-6, 5-6 Big Ten) needed a sparkplug and hoped it could be Arenas, a former five-star prospect and son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas.
Four video games into his freshman season, Arenas has showcased his expertise with artistic pictures and acrobatic strikes at the basket, including a leaping layup early in Saturday’s contest. Consistency, however, has been a wrestle.
Though he managed to hit the first two three pointers of his school profession early in the second half against Rutgers — he was beforehand 0 for 10 — Arenas fell short of securing his first double-digit recreation, scoring 9 factors on three-for-nine capturing. After accruing 4 fouls, Arenas sat to close out the sport, ending with under 20 minutes on the court.
Arenas’ teammates shot the ball effectively early and constructed a double-digit lead, but 17 turnovers haunted coach Eric Musselman’s workforce, particularly during a 12-1 Rutgers run halfway through the second half. The Scarlet Knights (9-13, 2-9) dedicated seven turnovers.
Rutgers’ 16-4 run late in the second half introduced it within putting distance, but a steal from USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara sealed the Trojans’ win.
Jacob Cofie, who was particularly important during a 16-4 USC run in the first half, secured his fifth double-double of the season with 15 factors and 10 rebounds. While Baker-Mazara obtained off to a comparatively quiet start and missed his first three makes an attempt from past the arc, he put up an 11-point second half, ending with 17 factors on seven-of-15 capturing to go with 5 rebounds.
Ezra Ausar completed with a team-high 21 factors after turning it up late, including a number of momentum-changing slam dunks. Ausar also grabbed seven rebounds. Kam Woods added 9 rebounds, eight factors and 4 assists.
While a win over struggling Rutgers, which has misplaced 5 in a row, isn’t the largest addition to USC’s resume, every win in Big Ten play is vital for the Trojans who hope to construct their case for an NCAA event berth. That quest will continue Tuesday, when the Trojans take on Indiana (15-7, 6-5) at Galen Center at 7 p.m.
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