USC Dominates Penn State with 92-67 Victory

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — USC delivered a convincing performance on Tuesday night, defeating Penn State 92-67 at the Galen Center. The Trojans, now 14-10 overall and 6-7 in the Big Ten, utilized a strong shooting night, hitting 67.3% of their shots, including 75% from beyond the arc.

Chibuzo Agbo led all scorers with a career-high 21 points, making seven of his nine attempts from three-point range. Desmond Claude, back from injury, added 16 points and eight assists, while Wesley Yates III contributed 13 points. The victory halted USC’s two-game losing streak.

USC’s success came on the heels of a challenging week, marred by illness within the team. Yates and Agbo had been among those affected, receiving IV treatment prior to the game. Despite these challenges, both players stepped up, showcasing resilience and talent. ‘It was definitely a tough week for us, but we knew we needed to win this game,’ Agbo said.

The Trojans started strong, quickly building a double-digit lead. Yates’ three-pointer at the 9:47 mark before halftime gave them a healthy advantage at 24-13. Though Penn State rallied to cut the deficit to nine before halftime, USC increased their lead again in the second half.

Claude’s return to the lineup proved vital. He demonstrated his ability to stroke the ball early, making his first five attempts, and ensuring the Trojans maintained their offensive momentum. ‘Having Desmond back was huge for us. He really runs the floor and creates opportunities,’ Yates said.

Penn State struggled throughout the night, unable to find their rhythm offensively. The Nittany Lions fell to 13-12 overall and extended their losing streak to six games. Ace Baldwin Jr. led Penn State with 15 points, while Dominick Stewart added 13.

The Nittany Lions faced an uphill battle after a nearly nine-minute field goal drought in the first half, during which USC went on a 16-1 run. Despite a late rally that narrowed the margin to 40-31 at halftime, USC dominated after the break, putting the game out of reach.

Next up, Penn State will look to end their losing streak as they host Washington on Saturday. Meanwhile, USC is set to face Minnesota, aiming for a strong finish to their season in pursuit of NCAA tournament contention.