USC men’s basketball held off Idaho State in a thrilling season opener Thursday night, winning 75-69 at the Galen Center.
The Trojans came out strong, building an early seven-point lead, but Idaho State mounted a late rally in the first half, cutting the deficit to just three points by halftime. The teams exchanged leads throughout the second half until graduate forward Saint Thomas hit a clutch three-pointer, giving USC a four-point lead. Sophomore guard Wesley Yates III sealed the win with a steal in the final seconds and a pair of free throws.
“I’m feeling really good about this team,” Thomas said after the game. “I’ve said from the start that I think we can make a deep run in March Madness, but it all starts with staying disciplined.”
Thomas’ late-game heroics capped a solid all-around performance, as he led the Trojans with nine assists and seven rebounds to go with 10 points, all while playing just 15 seconds of the entire game. Yates III finished with 13 points, and graduate forward Josh Cohen led the team with 19 points.
USC’s defense was a bright spot, forcing 17 turnovers that resulted in 18 points. However, the Trojans struggled offensively, shooting 43% from the field, just 25% from three-point range, and 65% from the free-throw line. USC also faced difficulties on the boards, finishing with a -15 rebound differential.
“We’ve got to do a better job rebounding, that’s just the reality,” said head coach Musselman. “But there were positives—like our 20 assists. That’s a lot of assists for a college basketball game.”
The Trojans will now have the weekend off before hosting UT Arlington on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The game is set to tip off at 8:00 p.m. PT at the Galen Center and will be broadcast on the Big 12 Network.