INDIANAPOLIS — Little has come easy for the USC men’s basketball team in its first year under Coach Eric Musselman, so why should the Big Ten Tournament be any different.
Desmond Claude scored 22 of his game-high 28 points in the second half and overtime, and 14th-seeded USC defeated 11th-seeded Rutgers, 97-89, in double overtime on Wednesday night, extending an often frustrating season for at least another night.
USC (16-16) will square off with sixth-seeded Purdue (21-10) in a second-round game of the 15-team conference tournament on Thursday at 6 p.m. PT.
Four points from Claude plus 3-pointers by Rashaun Agee and Wesley Yates III helped the Trojans build a 91-83 lead with 1:25 left in the second extra period. Yates added a layup and four free throws down the stretch to overcome two 3-pointers by the Scarlet Knights’ Tyson Acuff.
Agee had 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for the Trojans. Yates finished with 24 points and led the Trojans to a 10-of-23 3-point shooting effort with a perfect 4-for-4 performance from behind the arc. Chibuzo Agbo also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Claude had eight assists.
Dylan Harper had 27 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for Rutgers. Ace Bailey had 17 points before fouling out in regulation, and his three steals helped fuel Rutgers to a 31-7 advantage in points off turnovers. Acuff 16 and Lathan Sommerville another 16 for the11th-seeded Scarlet Knights (15-17).
Harper scored seven points in a 9-2 run that put the Scarlet Knights ahead 65-63 with four minutes left in regulation, their first lead since 5-2. Leading by two, Rutgers’ Jeremiah Williams missed two free throws with 18 seconds left to give USC an opportunity. Claude tied it with a driving layup with eight seconds left and Harper missed a jumper as time ran out, sending the game to overtime.
Claude scored six points in the first OT and Harper’s dunk with a minute remaining tied it at 80-all. Both teams missed a go-ahead shot in the final minute.
Capitalizing on a sluggish offensive start for Rutgers, USC jumped to an early 24-12 advantage. The Trojans’ advantage swelled to 15 points in the first half, and was as many as 13 points in the second half before the Scarlet Knights rallied.
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell implemented a full-court pressure defense in the second half that disrupted USC’s rhythm and sparked the Scarlet Knights’ comeback.
Rutgers could not overcome shooting just 6 for 30 from 3-point range, though.
More to come on this story.