USC Trojans Dominate Manhattan in Record-Setting 114-83 Victory

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Chad Baker-Mazara scored 20 of his career-high 26 points in the first half, leading the University of Southern California (USC) to a commanding 114-83 victory over Manhattan on Sunday. This win marked USC’s highest-scoring game in nearly 28 years.

Baker-Mazara made seven of his 13 shots from the field, including three of four from beyond the arc. He also went a perfect nine-for-nine from the free-throw line, contributing significantly to the Trojans’ offensive surge, which scored more than 100 points for the first time since November 2023.

Ezra Ausar supported Baker-Mazara with 17 points, shooting seven for ten. Rodney Rice added 14 points, along with six rebounds and four assists. Other notable performances came from Jacob Cofie, who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Terrence Williams II, who also scored 10 points.

The game opened with USC quickly establishing a 7-2 lead, but Manhattan fought back to tie it at 7-7. USC’s Baker-Mazara then hit a crucial three-pointer, igniting a scoring run that saw the Trojans pull ahead to a 28-23 lead with 7:48 left in the first half. By halftime, the Trojans had built a 55-37 advantage.

In the second half, USC led by as many as 35 points, consistently maintaining their lead and demonstrating offensive prowess. Junior guard Jaden Winston was Manhattan’s standout performer, scoring a career-high 29 points on nine of 14 shooting.

Other contributors for Manhattan included Terrance Jones with 18 points and Anthony Isaac, who added 16 points. However, the Jaspers struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 3 of 17 three-point attempts.

This victory highlighted USC’s offensive depth, as seven players reached double digits in scoring. The Trojans’ overall shooting percentage for the game was an impressive 50.6%, finishing 41 for 81.