Alijah Arenas Shines in USC’s Victory Against Indiana
USC Basketball Triumphs Despite Injury to Key Player
In a tense matchup Tuesday night at the Galen Center, the USC Trojans (17-6, 6-6) secured an 81-75 victory against the Indiana Hoosiers (15-8, 6-6 Big Ten) despite the early loss of leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara to a knee injury.
Freshman Alijah Arenas stepped up significantly in the absence of Baker-Mazara, scoring a team-high 29 points. This performance marked Arenas’ first double-digit scoring game of his college career and showcased the potential that earned him five-star recruit status. The game began in a tightly contested manner, with Arenas struggling early on, making only four of 14 shots from the field and one of six from beyond the arc.
Indiana’s guard, Lamar Wilkerson, delivered an impressive performance of his own, contributing 33 points, which kept the Hoosiers competitive throughout the game.
Entering this contest, Indiana was riding a wave of momentum, having won three consecutive games, including two notable victories in Quad 1. Known for their three-point shooting prowess, they attempted 35 shots from distance, making 10. However, USC’s resilience was demonstrated by crucial second-half three-pointers from Arenas and guard Kam Woods, which helped the Trojans gain an edge in shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
USC also dominated the rebounding battle, securing a total of 38 boards, including 11 offensive rebounds, in comparison to Indiana’s 24 and seven. Center Gabe Dynes was instrumental defensively, recording seven rebounds and three blocks in a strong bench performance.
In addition to Arenas’ standout game, Woods contributed 18 points, while Ezra Ausar added 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, collectively working to fill the gap left by Baker-Mazara’s injury. After sustaining the injury, Baker-Mazara was spotted on the bench with ice on his knee and using crutches.
Post-game, head coach Eric Musselman speculated that Baker-Mazara may have suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament, with further updates pending MRI results.
Looking ahead, the Trojans will embark on a road trip to the Midwest, where they are scheduled to face Penn State on Sunday at 9 a.m. PST, followed by a matchup against Ohio State.
