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USC’s upset bid falls short in Big Ten Tournament loss to Purdue

March 14, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS — Appropriately, the USC men’s basketball team battled until the end.

Having survived a double-overtime thriller against Rutgers the previous night, the Trojans led for a significant portion of their second-round Big Ten Tournament game on Thursday night but could not hold off Purdue in the final minute.

Trey Kaufman-Renn matched his career high with 30 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 28.3 seconds left, and Purdue scored the final five points to beat USC, 76-71, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Desmond Claude scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half for the Trojans (16-17), who defeated Rutgers on Wednesday night but didn’t look fatigued against Purdue (22-10). Wesley Yates III added 13 points and Matt Knowling and Rashau Agee added 11 points apiece.

The sixth-seeded Boilermakers trailed by 10 points in the first half, but they tied it by halftime and emerged from a back-and-forth second half thanks largely to Kaufman-Renn, who shot 12 for 20 from the field and 6 for 11 from the free-throw line.

After Kaufman-Renn’s free throws gave the Boilermakers a 73-71 advantage with 28.3 seconds left, Claude missed a short jumper with 22 seconds left. Purdue got the rebound and Kaufman-Renn was fouled with 13.8 seconds remaining and split two free throws.

The 14th-seeded Trojans then were looking for a tying 3-pointer. Claude threw a pass toward Yates, who slipped and fell to the floor. Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith caught the ball for the Boilermakers, was fouled with 3.6 seconds left and made both free throws to clinch it.

USC used a 14-1 burst in the first half to grab a 28-18 lead. Purdue’s Camden Heide drained two 3-pointers during a 10-0 burst to tie it with 4:23 remaining. The Boilermakers tied it again at 35-all on a Myles Colvin 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining.

USC capped an 8-0 run with a Chibuzo Agbo 3-pointer to open a 52-46 lead less than five minutes into the second half.

Agbo hit another 3-pointer to give the Trojans a 56-50 lead with 12:28 remaining before Purdue responded with a 9-2 run and took a 59-58 lead on Fletcher Loyer’s basket with 9:21 remaining.

Claude hit jumpers on three occasions to give USC a two-point edge. After the third time, Kaufman-Renn had two baskets around a one from Smith to give Purdue a 71-67 edge with 2:25 left.

Claude drove for a basket with 2:07 remaining and then swished a free-throw line jumper to tie it at 71-all with 54.5 seconds to play, setting up the late drama.

Loyer scored 14 points and Smith had 12 points and nine assists for Purdue, which had lost five of its previous seven games.

Purdue shot 47.3% from the field and 9 for 23 from 3-point range, while USC shot 43.5% overall but just 7 for 24 from behind the arc.

The Boilermakers advance to face third-seeded Michigan in Friday night’s quarterfinals. The teams split their two regular-season meetings, with each winning at home.

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The Trojans again proved they have the athletic skill and length to match up with most teams and pushed Purdue despite all of their starters having played the bulk of the double-overtime game the night before. On talent alone, USC appears to be a candidate for an NIT bid.

More to come on this story.

Orange County Register

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USC’s upset bid falls short in Big Ten Tournament loss to Purdue

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