No. 24 USC Men's Basketball Loses First Game of 2026 To No. 2 Michigan

Friday, January 2

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4 p.m. PT

USC

12-2,1-2Big Ten

Michigan

13-0,3-0Big Ten

Southern California

Michigan

Photo by: Jack Whyte

No. 24 USC Men's Basketball Loses First Game of 2026 To No. 2 Michigan

January 02, 2026 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Box Score (PDF)

Jaden Brownell tied his season high with 16 points to lead the Trojans.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A slow start doomed No. 24 USC Men's Basketball as the Trojans fell to No. 2 Michigan 96-66 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Friday, Jan. 2.

The Trojans struggled against one of the best teams in college basketball, committing 21 turnovers and connecting on just 34.5% of their field goals. Meanwhile, the Wolverines made 47.7% of their shots, scoring 24 points off USC's 21 turnovers and outrebounding the Trojans 40-35.

Despite offensive struggles, the Trojans saw three players finish with double figures: Jaden Brownell (16 points), Ezra Ausar (15) and Chad Baker-Mazara (12). USC's bench accounted for half of the team's 66 points, while nine different Trojans scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Playing against one of the nation's best defenses, the Trojans were held scoreless for the first six minutes and 41 seconds while the Wolverines opened the game with an 11-0 run. Ezra Ausar registered USC's first points on an and-one opportunity with 13:19 to go, then from that point forward, USC gradually found its footing. The duo of Ausar and Chad Baker-Mazara got going, combining for 15 of USC's first 17 points before Baker-Mazara was sidelined early with his third foul of the game.

Michigan led by as many as 18 points in the first half and took a 49-31 advantage heading into halftime. All told, the Wolverines forced 12 USC turnovers and held the Trojans to shooting just 10-for-33 (30.3%) in the first half.

USC scored its first four points of the second half from the free-throw line before Jaden Brownell backed down his man and made a hook shot to make the score 55-37 with 15:24 to play. But the Wolverines took a 20-point lead on the next possession and didn't look back. Michigan's lead ballooned to as many as 30, and the Trojans couldn't pull within 20 points of the hosts.

Jaden Brownell scored 13 second-half points to keep USC in the fight, while Ausar scored all five of his second-half points from the charity stripe. The Trojans' reserves scored 21 of the team's 35 second-half points.

NOTABLES

Jaden Brownell had one of his best offensive performances of the season against the Wolverines. He tied his season-high of 16 points while shooting at 60% from the field. Along with that, he added a season-high six boards and a steal before fouling out of the game.
Ezra Ausar surpassed 1,300 career points tonight, finishing with 15 points, making it his fifth consecutive game, and 11th of the season, with double digits.
Despite being hampered with foul trouble, Chad Baker-Mazara secured 12 points, keeping his streak of 14 games in double-figures intact.
Making his return to Ann Arbor, former Michigan Wolverine Terrance Williams II finished with five points and four rebounds.
Jerry Easter II chipped in seven points, two rebounds and one assist off the bench.
Jacob Cofie reached 50 career steals, finishing the game tonight with one. He also had six rebounds.
Graduate transfer guard Kam Woods scored his first points as a Trojan off a transition layup in the second half. He finished with two points, three rebounds and an assist.
The Wolverines have been averaging 38.3% from the arc this season, and USC held them to just 20%.
USC is now 1-3 all-time vs Michigan and Coach Musselman is now 0-2 against the Wolverines.
Today's starting lineup featured Ezra Ausar, Chad Baker-Mazara, Gabe Dynes, Jacob Cofie and Ryan Cornish. This lineup is now 1-1 on the season.

UP NEXT
The Trojans will turn their attention to another top 10 team in the state of Michigan as they take on the No. 9 Michigan State Spartans. Tip-off will be at 5:30 p.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 5. Fans can follow along by watching on FS1 or listening through ESPN LA 710.