Los Angeles, CA – USC put on an offensive clinic Wednesday night at the Galen Center, torching Washington 92-61 in one of their most dominant performances of the season. Chibuzo Agbo led the charge with a career-high-tying seven three-pointers, finishing with 26 points on 9-for-12 shooting. Desmond Claude added a double-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Rashaun Agee poured in 18 points as the Trojans ran away with the game early and never looked back.
For the first few minutes, Washington (13-17, 4-15 Big Ten) showed signs of life, even taking a brief 12-11 lead after a dunk from Great Osobor. But USC (15-15, 7-12 Big Ten) responded with an 18-4 run that completely flipped the script. Claude sparked the surge with a three-pointer, and Agee followed with a pair of big baskets, including a three that gave the Trojans their first double-digit lead. By the time the first half ended, USC had buried 9-of-13 shots from deep and held a commanding 47-35 lead.
The second half was more of the same. Agbo continued his three-point barrage, punishing Washington’s defense with every open look. Claude controlled the tempo, finding teammates for easy buckets and securing key rebounds to prevent any hope of a Husky comeback. USC’s efficiency was staggering—they shot 56.4% from the field, 57.7% from three, and a near-perfect 93.8% from the free-throw line. On the other end, Washington struggled to generate consistent offense, shooting just 43.1% overall and 39.1% from deep, with their leading scorer, Mekhi Mason, finishing with 19 points.
“It just felt like everything was flowing for us,” said Claude after the game. “We got out in transition, found open looks, and kept our foot on the gas. This is the kind of performance we’ve been working toward all season.”
As USC’s lead ballooned past 30 points late in the second half, Washington had no answers. The Huskies committed 16 turnovers, leading to easy transition buckets for the Trojans. Agbo put an exclamation point on the night with his seventh three-pointer, bringing the Galen Center crowd to its feet in celebration of a wire-to-wire dominant performance.
With the win, USC keeps its slim Big Ten Tournament hopes alive, now in a five-way tie at 7-12 in conference play. Washington, meanwhile, is officially eliminated from tournament contention. The Trojans will look to carry their momentum into Saturday’s highly anticipated rivalry showdown against UCLA, while Washington will attempt to end their season on a high note at home against Oregon.
Based in Los Angeles, California, Martin is a freelance photographer with Martin26Photos, specializing in sports and portrait photography. He has made a name for himself in Southern California’s sports photojournalism scene, covering local high school and college events as well as media days. With experience capturing high-profile Division 1 athletics, Martin aims to expand his work to professional sports in the near future.
