USC’s sport in opposition to Minnesota on Saturday carried extra emotional weight than a typical matchup for Trojans coach Eric Musselman. He spent his adolescence in Minneapolis whereas his father, Invoice Musselman, coached Minnesota from 1971 to 1975, successful a Large Ten title within the course of.
Eric Musselman most likely gained’t be reminiscing about what he noticed from the Trojans in his first sport teaching in opposition to Minnesota. USC was unable to carry again a late Minnesota surge in a 69-66 loss at Galen Heart that difficult USC’s already tenuous NCAA match aspirations.
Within the bonus, a late foul on a driving Lu’Cye Patterson despatched the Minnesota guard to the road for a one-and-one, with USC holding a 66-65 lead. Patterson hit each free throws to place the Golden Gophers forward.
USC (14-11 total, 6-8 Large Ten) had an opportunity to win the sport with one in every of its ultimate possessions, however a turnover by Desmond Claude — his sixth of the sport — coupled with two extra Patterson free throws sealed the win for Minnesota (13-12, 5-9).
“We’re off the bubble,” Musselman mentioned about the place USC’s NCAA match hopes stand. “We have a two-game road trip coming up — Ohio State is sitting here [just ahead in the standings] waiting on us. … The importance of this game was monumental.”
For the primary 36 minutes, USC led the sport, and at occasions, was in stable management, main by as a lot as 14. The Golden Gophers, nevertheless, began to chip away within the second half. A 13-3 run gave Minnesota a 53-52 lead with 7:16 left.
With the rating tied 59-59, Wesley Yates III hit a three-pointer with 3:59 left to present the Trojans a 62-59 lead, however USC couldn’t sustain its momentum. Frank Mitchell scored back-to-back baskets for Minnesota to make it a one-point rating earlier than Patterson’s free throws put Minnesota forward for good.
“Trying to make the Big Ten tournament,” Musselman mentioned concerning the Trojans’ major purpose for the rest of the common season. “I told the staff at the beginning of the year that I thought making the Big Ten tournament was, one, something we didn’t want to be left out of. And now, that’s in jeopardy, obviously.”
Yates completed with 18 factors, going three for 4 from three-point vary and 5 for 5 from the free-throw line. He was one in every of three Trojans in double figures, alongside Chibuzo Agbo and Claude, who scored 18 and 12 factors, respectively.
However, it was finally not sufficient for a Trojans group that was outscored 40-28 within the second half.
“That was a tough loss,” Agbo mentioned. “We knew this game was really important to us.”
