LOS ANGELES — USC put on an offensive clinic Sunday night at the Galen Center, rolling past Manhattan 114–83 to move to 2–0 on the young season. The Trojans dominated from start to finish, posting their highest single-game point total in more than two decades.
Guard Chad Baker-Mazara led the way for USC with a career-high 26 points, shooting 9-for-9 from the free-throw line and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. His energy and efficiency sparked the Trojans early as they built a double-digit lead midway through the first half.The Jaspers managed to keep pace early, but USC’s depth proved too much. Ezra Ausar added 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while Rodney Rice chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists in a well-rounded performance. The Trojans’ bench also delivered, with Jaden Brownell scoring 13 points and Jordan Marsh adding 11 off the bench.
By halftime, USC held a 55–37 lead, and the second half was all Trojans. Their offense continued to surge, extending the lead to as many as 35 points. A late layup by Brownell pushed USC past the century mark with more than six minutes still remaining.For Manhattan, Jaden Winston was a bright spot, finishing with 29 points, while Terrance Jones contributed 18. Despite the offensive effort, the Jaspers couldn’t slow down USC’s pace or control the boards.
The win showcased the Trojans’ depth and offensive potential heading into a challenging nonconference stretch. Scoring 114 points — their highest total since 1998 — sends a strong early message to the rest of the country that this USC team has firepower at every position.With the victory, USC improves to 2–0, while Manhattan drops to 1–1. The Trojans will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup later this week at home, continuing to fine-tune their rotation and chemistry before conference play begins.
