Alijah Arenas Leads USC to Victory Over Penn State with Late Game Scoring Surge
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Alijah Arenas delivered a standout performance on Sunday, scoring 11 of his 24 points in the final four minutes to secure a 77-75 victory for USC over Penn State. The decisive moment came with just 0.7 seconds left on the clock when Arenas executed a layup that sealed the game.
Freddie Dilione V had previously tied the score at 75-75 for Penn State with a layup with 12 seconds remaining. Following a USC timeout to advance the ball into the frontcourt, Arenas received the inbounds pass, maneuvered to the right block, and skillfully banked a layup off the glass to conclude the scoring.
USC’s Kam Woods contributed significantly with 13 points, marking a season-high nine assists, in addition to five rebounds and four steals. Teammates Ezra Ausar also added 13 points, while Jacob Cofie recorded 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
On the Penn State side, Dilione led the team with 23 points, shooting 10-of-18 from the floor. Josh Reed followed closely, making eight of 11 attempts and finishing with 17 points, while Ivan Juric and Dominick Stewart chipped in with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, this defeat continued a challenging streak, marking their tenth loss in the last eleven games.
The game saw a crucial turning point when Penn State surged ahead by scoring ten consecutive points, establishing a 40-36 lead at halftime. They further extended their advantage with a 10-2 run at the start of the second half, capped by a fast-break dunk from Dilione that pushed their lead to 50-38.
However, the tide turned dramatically as USC capitalized on a lengthy scoring drought from Penn State, who went 0-for-8 on the field for more than eight and a half minutes. This allowed USC to mount a 22-5 run, ultimately giving them a six-point lead with just six minutes remaining in the game.
