USC Men's Basketball Tames Broncos in 70-67 Win At Southwest Maui Invitational

Monday, November 24

Lahaina, Maui, Hawai'i

2 p.m. PT

USC

5-0,0-0Big Ten

Boise State

4-2,0-0Mountain West

Southern California

Boise St.

Rodney Rice dribbling during the Maui Invitational

USC Men's Basketball Tames Broncos in 70-67 Win At Southwest Maui Invitational

November 24, 2025 | Men's Basketball

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Rodney Rice posted a season-high 27 points to guide the Trojans to victory.

MAUI, Hawai'i – USC Men's Basketball (5-0) outlasted the Boise State Broncos (4-2) in a 70-67 win in the quarterfinals of the Southwest Maui Invitational on Monday, Nov. 24.

Guard Rodney Rice led the Trojans with a team-high 27 points off 11-for-21 shooting, including the go-ahead three-point play with 14.8 seconds left. Chad Baker-Mazara added 11 points and eight rebounds in USC's win. The Trojans finished the game shooting 42% overall and 50% from beyond the arc.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Broncos notched a quick bucket on their first possession off the tip, but the Trojans raced off to an efficient shooting start, sparked by a 3-pointer from forward Jacob Cofie at the top of the key. Soon after, Baker-Mazara dropped a pair of buckets, and Cofie capitalized on a bad pass from the Broncos, with Rice finishing at the rim. Just four minutes into the game, USC had a 12-4 lead until Boise State fought back with six unanswered points. Forward Ezra Ausar's finish at the rim ended the three-minute scoring drought for the Trojans, and guard Jordan Marsh knocked down a three to give USC a 17-10 edge.

The Broncos gained some momentum, but Marsh and Rice hit back-to-back threes to make it 27-18, giving USC its largest lead of the half with seven minutes to play. Behind a couple of converted three-point plays and floaters at the rim, Boise State surged on a 12-2 run to take its first lead of the game with less than three minutes left on the clock. The Trojans and the Broncos traded baskets down the final stretch of the first frame, but USC held a 34-32 advantage heading into the break.

The Trojans opened up the second half with a blazing hot start, hitting three 3-pointers on consecutive plays from Baker-Mazara and Rice to put USC up 43-37. Boise State answered with an 8-0 run to take a 43-40 lead. The Broncos' lead wouldn't last long, as Ausar delivered on an alley-oop from Marsh, and Rice scored in transition with a go-ahead layup to make it a 47-45 game with 13 minutes to go.

Both the Trojans and the Broncos struggled from the field for the next three minutes, but Rice snapped the scoring drought by nailing his fourth three of the afternoon to put USC up 53-52. The lead see-sawed until USC broke through with a three from Jacob Cofie and a pair of free throws from Baker-Mazara to put USC up 63-59 with about two minutes to go.

However, Boise State answered with a 6-2 run that tied the game at 65 with under a minute to go. With less than 30 seconds to go and the shot clock expiring, Rice called game by making a right-handed layup through contact and converting on the three-point play. Leaving 14.8 seconds left. Both teams traded free throws down the stretch and USC hung on for the 70-67 victory.

NOTABLES

Tonight was a record night for Ezra Ausar, who appeared in his 100th career game and surpassed 500 career rebounds. He finished the night with nine points and six rebounds.
Rodney Rice scored 14 points in the first half, marking the fourth time in USC's five games he's reached double figures before the break. He ultimately finished the game with a season-high 27 points, making a career-high 11 field goals. Monday's game marked the first time in his career that he had scored 20 or more points in three-straight games.
Jordan Marsh provided a strong spark off the bench, knocking down two threes on his way to eight points and three rebounds, one of his most efficient performances of the season.
USC held Boise State to shooting 20% from three — a season-low for the Trojans' defense.
With seven blocks tonight, USC has now recorded at least seven blocks in all five games this season.
Jacob Cofie impacted the game on both ends, finishing with seven points, three rebounds, and tying his career-high with three blocks.
Chad Baker-Mazara had a strong all-around game with 11 points and eight defensive rebounds.
Both Rice and Baker-Mazara are the only two players who have earned double-digit points in all five games this season.
USC had nine different players with at least one rebound in the first half.
USC is now 1-0 against Boise State all-time, and Eric Musselman is 8-2 against the Broncos.
Today's starting lineup featured Rodney Rice, Ezra Ausar, Chad Baker-Mazara, Terrence Williams II, and Jacob Cofie. This lineup is now 4-0 on the season.

QUOTABLES
Coach Eric Musselman on USC's defensive strategy vs. Boise State…
"Defending the three was certainly the priority in the two games leading up to this game. So, I thought we did a phenomenal job there. I thought we did a great job on Fielder, just kind of walling him up and keeping him off the glass."

Coach Eric Musselman on the atmosphere of the Maui Invitational…
"This is the second time I've been here — obviously being in Arkansas a few years ago. I think this environment can prepare you for the NCAA Tournament with the way that the field is set up, with the intimacy of the gym — loud and pressure-filled. I think this is a great life experience for all of our players, and it's incredible for families."

Rodney Rice on watching the Maui Invitational growing up and his experience on being here…
"Years prior, I've definitely seen it on TV. The competitiveness – I've always noticed that. And just to be in it, it's real, with close games every game, you've just gotta bring it."

Terrance Williams II on picking the game up defensively…
"Coach made a big emphasis on physicality and rebounding and I feel like we weren't doing that in the early stages, even in the first half. But I think we picked it up a little bit in the second half, but we still have room to improve for sure. We could be more physical, we could box out more, pursue loose balls more, so we're just gonna keep working on that more."

UP NEXT
USC will move on to the semifinals of the Southwest Maui Invitational to face Seton Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Tip-off at the Lahaina Civic Center is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT on ESPN. There will also be a radio stream through the USC Game Day app.