USC mens basketball sees its March Madness hopes | College News

USC’s sport in opposition to Minnesota on Saturday carried more emotional weight than a typical matchup for Trojans coach Eric Musselman. He spent his youth in Minneapolis whereas his father, Bill Musselman, coached Minnesota from 1971 to 1975, successful a Big Ten title within the course of.

Eric Musselman in all probability received’t be reminiscing about what he noticed from the Trojans in his first sport teaching in opposition to Minnesota. USC was unable to carry back a late Minnesota surge in a 69-66 loss at Galen Center that sophisticated USC’s already tenuous NCAA match aspirations.

In the bonus, a late foul on a driving Lu’Cye Patterson despatched the Minnesota guard to the road for a one-and-one, with USC holding a 66-65 lead. Patterson hit each free throws to put the Golden Gophers forward.

USC (14-11 general, 6-8 Big Ten) had a probability to win the sport with one of its last possessions, however a turnover by Desmond Claude — his sixth of the sport — coupled with two more Patterson free throws sealed the win for Minnesota (13-12, 5-9).

“We’re off the bubble,” Musselman mentioned about the place USC’s NCAA match hopes stand. “We have a two-game road trip coming up — Ohio State is sitting here [just ahead in the standings] waiting on us. … The importance of this game was monumental.”

For the primary 36 minutes, USC led the sport, and at instances, was in stable control, main by as a lot as 14. The Golden Gophers, nevertheless, began to chip away within the second half. A 13-3 run gave Minnesota a 53-52 lead with 7:16 left.

With the rating tied 59-59, Wesley Yates III hit a three-pointer with 3:59 left to offer the Trojans a 62-59 lead, however USC couldn’t keep up its momentum. Frank Mitchell scored back-to-back baskets for Minnesota to make it a one-point rating earlier than Patterson’s free throws put Minnesota forward for good.

“Trying to make the Big Ten tournament,” Musselman mentioned in regards to the Trojans’ main objective for the rest of the common season. “I told the staff at the beginning of the year that I thought making the Big Ten tournament was, one, something we didn’t want to be left out of. And now, that’s in jeopardy, obviously.”

Yates completed with 18 factors, going three for 4 from three-point vary and 5 for 5 from the free-throw line. He was one of three Trojans in double figures, alongside Chibuzo Agbo and Claude, who scored 18 and 12 factors, respectively.

But, it was finally not enough for a Trojans group that was outscored 40-28 within the second half.

“That was a tough loss,” Agbo mentioned. “We knew this game was really important to us.”