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USC Aims to Maintain Momentum Against Slumping Northwestern
USC Riding High After Top 10 Victory
Southern California enters Tuesday night’s road matchup against Northwestern with confidence after a statement win over No. 7 Michigan State.
The Trojans (13-8, 5-5 Big Ten) stunned the Spartans 70-64 at home on Saturday, handing Michigan State its first conference loss. Desmond Claude led the charge with 19 points and six rebounds, solidifying his place as the team’s top scorer at 16.2 points per game.
“Our team is a confident team,” said USC head coach Eric Musselman. “You lose a hard-fought game against UCLA at home, how are you going to respond?”
The Trojans responded in a big way, and now they hit the road for back-to-back Big Ten tests, starting with Northwestern before a Friday showdown at No. 7 Purdue.
Northwestern Faces an Uphill Battle Amid Injuries and Losing Streak
While USC is trending up, Northwestern (12-10, 3-8 Big Ten) is reeling from three straight losses and a season-ending injury to star Brooks Barnhizer.
The Wildcats have dropped consecutive games against:
- Rutgers (79-72, Jan. 29)
- No. 17 Wisconsin (75-69, Feb. 3)
- Illinois (83-74, Jan. 26)
Barnhizer, who was averaging 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, initially played through a foot injury sustained on Jan. 12. However, his condition worsened, and head coach Chris Collins announced on Saturday that his career at Northwestern was over.
“Not only was he not moving well, but I could see it was mentally killing him,” Collins said, fighting back tears. “He and I got together over the last couple of days, and the decision was made to shut it down.”
With Barnhizer out, the Wildcats must rely on Nick Martinelli (19.4 PPG) and Jalen Leach (14.7 PPG) to generate offense.
Key Players to Watch
USC Trojans:
- Desmond Claude (G) – 16.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG
- Chibuzo Agbo (F) – 11.7 PPG, 39.8% 3PT
- Wesley Yates III (G) – 11.3 PPG
- Saint Thomas (F) – 11.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG
Northwestern Wildcats:
- Nick Martinelli (G) – 19.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG
- Jalen Leach (G) – 14.7 PPG, 3.9 APG
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USC’s Road Challenge: Can the Trojans Keep Rolling?
USC cannot afford to look ahead to Purdue on Friday, as Northwestern still has the talent to put up a fight at home.
The Trojans have won two of three against ranked Big Ten teams, including a road win at No. 20 Illinois on Jan. 11. With Claude leading a balanced scoring attack, USC will aim to continue its momentum and move above .500 in conference play.
Meanwhile, Northwestern is searching for answers, hoping home-court advantage can help snap its skid and prevent its season from slipping further.
Will USC build on its biggest win of the season, or can Northwestern rally despite missing its star player? Tuesday’s matchup will define the trajectory of both teams heading into the stretch run of conference play.
