Earlier than Sunday’s recreation in opposition to Washington State, USC coach Eric Musselman instructed Jacob Cofie to be aggressive and search for his shot.
The 6-foot-10 sophomore ahead did what he was instructed, scoring his group’s first 4 baskets and ending with 21 factors and 10 rebounds within the Trojans’ 68-61 nonconference victory at Galen Middle.
The Trojans led by as many as 16 factors within the first half however had been forward by solely three with 5 minutes remaining earlier than outscoring the Cougars 13-9 down the stretch to notch their second straight win and enhance to 10-1.
“We would have liked extra from him within the Washington and San Diego video games, so we would have liked him to bounce again,” Musselman mentioned of Cofie, who has began each recreation. “We made a acutely aware effort to go to him. He was far more aggressive on the rim and was nice on the glass.”
Chad Baker-Mazara added 19 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists and blocked a layup with 1:15 left that stored USC forward by 5 and allowed Cofie and Ezra Ausar to ice the sport on the foul line.
Ausar had 13 factors and made 9 of 11 free throws.
“It begins on protection and the offense will come,” mentioned Cofie, who dunked on the Trojans’ first possession and netted 14 of his group’s first 26 factors. “I need to be one of the best participant I may be. I performed as arduous as I may.”
The Trojans are off to their finest begin since 2021-22 once they gained their first 13 video games underneath earlier coach Andy Enfield, and Musselman couldn’t assist considering how good the Trojans could be as soon as they’re at full power.
“If 100% wholesome, I’d count on us to be 11-0,” he mentioned. “We’d be nearly as good as any of my Arkansas groups. Given all our accidents, I’m amazed we’re 10-1. I’m pleasantly shocked by our file … however we’ve bought to play rather a lot higher to have success within the Massive Ten.”
USC guard Chad Baker-Mazara, left, tries to dunk on Washington State ahead Emmanuel Ugbo at Galen Middle on Sunday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
Rihards Vavers scored 13 factors to guide the Cougars (3-8), who used a 9-0 run to tug inside seven by halftime, 33-26.
It was the primary assembly between the previous Pac-12 rivals because the Cougars prevailed 75-72 in Pullman, Wash., on Feb. 29, 2024. USC moved to the Massive Ten final season and Washington State moved to the West Coast Convention. USC leads the all-time sequence, 82-50.
“This was nice for Jacob transferring ahead … we’d like him, Ezra and Chad to play an ‘A’ recreation within the Massive Ten,” Musselman mentioned. “If we are able to win Wednesday [against Texas San Antonio] and Sunday [against Brown], we’ll be in a very good place. I might hope we’re ranked once more tomorrow. We had been simply exterior the Prime 25 and we gained two video games this week.”
Ausar is taking it one recreation at a time.
“We need to beat each opponent we play, and once you do that you simply construct your resume and achieve respect from different groups,” Ausar mentioned after logging a team-high 37:42 of ground time. “We’ve had one unhealthy half [against Washington] after we bought actual complacent and cozy, however we discovered from it and it’s all about constructing group chemistry.”
USC led your complete approach in opposition to Washington State however was unable to tug away. Jordan Marsh had eight factors and 5 assists and Jaden Brownell added six factors off the bench. Terrance Williams performed 20 minutes, making one free throw and grabbing two rebounds.
Upon scoring 31 factors in opposition to San Diego on Tuesday, Baker-Mazara grew to become the primary Trojan to attain greater than 20 factors in 4 consecutive video games since Byron Wesley did so from Dec. 22, 2013, to Jan. 9, 2014. Via 10 video games he was considered one of three gamers nationwide with not less than six 20-point video games and two 30-point video games.
“Chad’s been bothered by a hamstring [injury] for 2 weeks,” Musselman mentioned. “He was on the bike within the tunnel, however he blocked an enormous shot on the finish. Terrance [Williams] gave us worthwhile minutes. We had been struggling to attain and he’s considered one of our higher defenders.”
