MSU came out flat, quickly falling into a 15-point hole in the first eight minutes, making it difficult to recover. Five of MSU’s first eight shots were three-pointers—despite outside shooting not being the team’s strength this season—converting just one.

The Spartans were down 13-4 and eventually 22-7, at which point USC was on a 13-3 run in just three minutes. Right after, however, MSU went on a 9-0 run, a sign that the Spartans could gain momentum. Junior guard Tre Holloman’s three-pointer cut the deficit down to 27-24, a momentum-shifter for only about 10 seconds when USC made an and-one layup.

At the half, MSU was down 35-32, the first time since it lost to Memphis, which was also the last time the side lost. Sophomore forward Coen Carr, freshman guard Jase Richardson and Holloman combined for 19 points, four rebounds and three assists. 

Turnovers and rebounding were key issues at the break, as MSU committed seven turnovers, forced six, and was outrebounded 20-18. The Spartans shot the same percentage as USC, with the Trojans’ guards Desmond Claude and Chibuzo Agbo having combined for 23 points and seven rebounds, fueling USC’s consistent advantage over the Spartans through the first 20 minutes. 

MSU struggled to convert key shots when it mattered most. The team was down by five points and missed a three-pointer, or down four and missed a jump shot. MSU’s inconsistent defense left USC open for clean looks, allowing the Trojans to hit seven three-pointers.

The second half followed a similar pattern—MSU fought to climb back but couldn’t generate enough momentum to overtake USC. Redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. and senior guard Jaden Akins led the team with 11 points each, along with a combined six rebounds and eight assists. 

Claude and Agbo combined for 33 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, and guard Wesley Yates III stepped up in the second half to finish the game with 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting, with five rebounds. They helped USC get its first win against a top-10 opponent since March 9, 2024. 

A glaring issue was MSU’s 11-for-19 free-throw shooting. The Spartans, who had been shooting over 80% before Saturday, hit just 57% against USC, while the Trojans converted four more on the same number of attempts. Some of those free throws came at crucial moments, like the last few minutes of the game, and could have helped MSU propel past USC. 

MSU will aim to bounce back from just its third loss of the season and stay composed in Los Angeles. The Spartans face UCLA on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 10 p.m., with the game airing on Peacock.