USC men's basketball loses all momentum with disastrous road trip

USC’s road trip has been forgettable, especially in Michigan, where they suffered their second straight loss to No. 12 Michigan State. The Spartans dominated in a blowout, winning 80-51. It marked USC’s second consecutive game with a margin of defeat of around 30 points.

Ezra Ausar and Jerry Easter II led the Trojans with 17 and 12 points, respectively. Chad Baker-Mazara, limited in minutes due to disciplinary reasons, chipped in four points. The Trojans struggled offensively, shooting just 32% from the field, a continuation of their poor performance against Michigan and a dismal 17% from beyond the arc. Their 17 turnovers, seven by Ausar, fueled the Spartans’ fast breaks, leading to a lopsided 25-5 advantage in that category.

The Trojans started their three-game road trip ranked in the top 25 but quickly dropped out of the polls. If they want any shot at making the NCAA tournament, they need to show something against Minnesota. Michigan and Michigan State are elite teams, the kind the Trojans are striving to become. The truth is, the first two games looked rough from the start. Still, there’s a chance to salvage something from this road trip when they take on Minnesota.

The team seems to be engaging in some bonding activities to lift the locker room’s spirits as they visited the Timberwolves game while in Minnesota. The Trojans hold a solid 12-3 overall record, but their 1-3 mark in conference play needs to improve if they hope to find success this season.

The Trojans take on Minnesota on January 9 at 5:30 PM PT (8:30 PM ET) on the Big Ten Network.

Nicholas Burmood is a contributor for Reign of Troy, and you can follow him on X at @NBurmoodRoT for more USC content.