Trojans Youth Hold Off Experienced Hoosiers  

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

     In just his fifth college basketball game USC Freshman Elijah Arenas scored career high 29 Points as the Trojans beat the Indiana Hoosiers 81-75 Tuesday Night at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. Arenas who game into the game scoring 30 points in his previous four games shot 9-23 from the field, 3-9 from three-point range and 8-9 from the free throw line.

     USC is 17-6 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten and will travel East to face Penn State on Sunday. Kam Woods scored 18 points along with 12 points from Erza Azuar as Chad Baker-Mazara who averages 19 points a game was limited to seven first half points as he left the game with an injury and did not return.

    USC finished the game 25-54 for 46%, 6-17 form three-point range for 35% and 25-31 from the free throw line for 81%. The Trojans pulled down 40 rebounds, dished out 14 assists, 8 blocks, 5 steals and 15 turnovers.

    Lamar Wilkerson led Indiana with 33 points and was the only Hoosier in Double Figures. Wilkerson was 11-20 from the field, 5-12 from three-point range and 6-6 from the free throw line. All nine Hoosiers that played scored as Tayton Conerway returned after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. Conerway came off the bench and played 10 minutes scoring 7 points.

      Sam Alexis and Reed Bailey had 8 points each. Nick Dorn who has been the hot hand for the Hoosiers in the last four games scored 6 points. Tucker DeVries had 5 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Conor Enright had 8 assists and 3 points. Trent Sisley had 3 points, and Jasai Miles had 2 points as the Hoosiers are 15-8 on the season and 6-6 in the Big Ten and will Host Wisconsin at Noon on Saturday.

     The Hoosiers finished 26-63 for 41% from the field, 10-35 from three-point range for 29% and 13-16 from the free throw line for 81%. The Hoosiers pulled down 25 rebounds, dished out 21 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks and 10 turnovers.

     USC led at halftime 36-30 and outscored Indiana 46-45 in the second half.  USC led by 14 points with 11:42 left in the second half at 55-41 after a Kam Woods three pointer. The Hoosiers responded with 14-5 run to get back into the game. The game came down to the wire as Tayton Conerway made 1-2 free throws to the Hoosiers within six points at 75-69.

    IU got the offensive rebound as Tucker DeVries was fouled and made both free throws to make it 75-71. Woods turned the ball over on the next possession as Conerway scores on the layup and miss the free throw with 31 seconds left to make it 75-73 Trojans. Jordan Marsh made two free throws to give USC a four-point lead with 24 seconds left. Conerway drove to the rim but was denied by Ryan Cornish who came up with the block from behind. Arenas sealed the win with 2 free throws with 14 seconds to go.

      Indiana was looking for the 2-game road sweep their three-game winning streak comes to a close. The series is now tied up 3-3 as this was second time the programs have meet since USC joined the Big Ten in 2024 with the teams protecting their home court.  Indiana returns home for the next two games with Wisconsin and Oregon on deck as their 8 games left in the Regular Season before the Big Ten Tournament at the United Center in Chicago in Mid-March.