LOS ANGELES — USC Men’s basketball advance to 10-1 after outlasting the Washington State Cougars on Sunday night, 68-61. With a near career-high performance from Cofie, the Trojans secured their first win against their old Pac-12 opponent for the first time since 2023.
A 21-point, 10-rebound masterclass from the Washington native Jacob Cofie was the standard that Washington State couldn’t match. The sophomore wasted no time making his presence known, opening the game with a dunk and pouring in 12 points within the first 12 minutes. While the Cougars had seven rebounds as a team with under six minutes left in the first half, Cofie had already matched that with seven rebounds by himself.
Advertisement
“I didn’t have a good game last game so I knew, no doubt, I had to ball out today,” Cofie said. “In my head, I said I have to start on defense and offense will come. Muss told me to just play hard and it will all fall out.”
The first half belonged to USC. The Trojans dominated early on, scoring 20 points in the paint and building a 16-point advantage — the largest lead of the night. With seven minutes remaining before halftime, USC went on a 15-point run, electrifying the Galen Center crowd and appearing to put the game under Trojan control.
But Washington State, known for their scrappy and gritty style, began to slow USC’s rhythm down. The Cougars slowed USC’s tempo, forced tougher possessions and leaned on perimeter shooting to stay in the game. Washington State finished the night shooting 32.1% from three-point range, while USC struggled from 7.7%
USC forward Ezra Ausar reflected on his overall 2-for-8 performance.
Advertisement
“Looking forward to challenge myself throughout the week,” Ausar said. “Im not perfect but Im never going to have a down break about it. There are more days to stack.”
Washington State refused to be counted out just yet. Just one minute into the second half, Cougars forward Eemeli Yalaho turned a missed jump shot into a second-chance hook shot, making it a one-point game and flipping the script. The Cougars came out of the locker room with increased confidence and precise completions that kept pressure on USC down the stretch.
Still, when it mattered most, USC matched Washington State’s energy until the final buzzer. Chad Baker-Mazara came up with a clutch block denying a layup. After that possession, Ausar drew contact, stepped to the line and calmly knocked down two free throws, extending the lead and sealing the victory in the final seconds.
This win also came as USC continues to navigate a shortened rotation without Rice, Arenas and Dickerson. After the game, head coach Eric Musselman teased the possibility of adding another player to the roster.
Advertisement
“The semester ends on Wednesday,” Musselman said. “If we could somehow get another player, I’d like to get that done too. If we could make that happen.”
USC will return to action on December 17, hosting UTSA at Galen Center, with hopes of reentering the rankings before the holiday break.
