Los Angeles, CA — It wasn’t pretty for Minnesota in the first half, but as the saying goes, it’s not about how you start—it’s about how you finish. Down by as many as 14 points in the opening 20 minutes, the Golden Gophers flipped the script in the second half, riding a gritty, relentless effort to a stunning 69-66 victory over USC at Galen Center on Saturday night.
For the first 20 minutes, the game felt like it was on the verge of getting away from Minnesota. USC looked bigger, faster, and more athletic, suffocating the Gophers with their defense while finding efficient offense behind Chibuzo Agbo and Wesley Yates III, who combined for 36 points. At one point, USC held Minnesota scoreless for nearly five minutes and appeared poised to blow the game wide open.
And yet, as dominant as the Trojans looked, Minnesota never completely fell apart. They trailed by just nine at halftime, despite struggling to get leading scorer Dawson Garcia involved—he attempted just two shots in the first half, finishing with a season-low seven points.
“We just never wavered,” said Lu’Cye Patterson, who played the role of hero in the second half. “We just came together as a team and stayed together.”
Gophers Flip the Script
The second half belonged to Lu’Cye Patterson and the Gophers’ relentless will. The 6’2″ guard played much bigger than his frame, attacking the rim, drawing multiple fouls, and finishing through contact. He went to the free-throw line 13 times, making 11, and finished with a game-high 25 points, willing Minnesota back into contention.
“I thought Lu’Cye really showed a will and toughness to him,” Gophers head coach Ben Johnson said after the game. “I think our guys really fed off that. He had a competitive fight.”
Alongside Patterson, Frank Mitchell provided an unexpected spark off the bench. The reserve big man posted a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double, dominating the glass and delivering the kind of interior presence Minnesota needed against USC’s length. His six offensive rebounds helped keep possessions alive and ultimately swung momentum in the Gophers’ favor.
“The coaching staff keeps on me and are adamant about my play, my hustle, and my motor,” Mitchell said. “I think as a team they keep motivating me. That allows me to do my job.”
Minnesota turned defense into offense, forcing 10 steals and holding USC to just 28 second-half points. With seven minutes left, the Gophers completed their comeback, taking their first lead of the night. USC responded with a pair of late buckets from Rashaun Agee, but Minnesota refused to relinquish control.
Final Moments and Fallout
With the game tied at 66-66 in the final minute, it was a battle of execution. The Gophers made their free throws when it mattered most, while USC struggled to generate clean looks against Minnesota’s swarming defense. A missed three-pointer by Desmond Claude in the closing seconds sealed the Trojans’ fate.
For USC, this loss was a gut punch—a game where they led for nearly 36 minutes, only to watch it slip away.
“I think the game is a game of runs and a game of rhythm with everything,” USC head coach Eric Musselman said. “We had a lot of scorers offensively, but we didn’t get as many quality looks as we did during the first half.”
The win is a significant boost for Minnesota’s Big Ten Tournament hopes, proving that despite being outmatched on paper, their heart and execution carried them through. Meanwhile, USC, once on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament bid, takes a gut-punch loss that may push them even further out of the conversation.
“Winning that first one you’re definitely going in with the ultimate confidence to go get another one,” Patterson said. “Happy for our guys we got this one. We know the next one is going to be a real test.”
As the Trojans head into the final stretch of the season, they’ll need to find answers—fast. For Minnesota, however, the road trip to Los Angeles started with a well-earned victory and a statement performance that they can take across the city to Westwood when they play UCLA on Tuesday.
Ben, Chief Editor and Business Consultant at WCSM, is also the Chief Creative Officer at two multi-million-dollar businesses, where he has driven growth and innovation. A summa cum laude graduate with degrees in Statistics and Business Computer Information Systems, Ben has helped small businesses double their revenue, launched YouTube channels with over 50K followers, and created websites for high-profile clients in TV and film. His expertise spans content creation, video production, advertising, analytics, web design, and data analysis. Ben is eager to bring his skills to WCSM, turning their vision into impactful realities while fostering sustainable growth.
