Chad Baker-Mazara scored 29 points, including a go-ahead pair of free throws with 10.9 seconds left in overtime, and USC held on for a 70-69 win over Minnesota in a Big Ten Conference matchup Friday night in Minneapolis.
Baker-Mazara added eight assists and Ezra Ausar contributed 14 points and nine rebounds for USC (13-3, 2-3), which recovered from back-to-back losses. Jacob Cofie and Gabe Dynes contributed nine points apiece.
Cade Tyson scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Minnesota (10-6, 3-2), which lost on its home court for the first time this season. Bobby Durkin scored 13 points and Langston Reynolds finished with 12.
The score was even at 66-all late in overtime when Ausar made a jump shot to put USC on top 68-66 with 1:03 to play.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson responded with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give Minnesota a 69-68 lead with 27 seconds to go.
Baker-Mazara drove toward the paint and drew a foul on Reynolds on the next USC possession. He made both of his free throws to give the Trojans a 70-69 lead with 10.9 seconds remaining.
On the Golden Gophers’ final attempt, Tyson briefly lost his dribble and had to rush a difficult jump shot from the baseline. USC got the rebound and sealed the victory.
With the score tied at 63, Ausar had a chance to win the game for USC at the buzzer but his jump shot bounced off the rim to force overtime.
The Golden Gophers erased a 13-point deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Cofie connected on a 3-pointer to give USC a 53-40 lead with 9:48 remaining.
Minnesota stormed back to briefly take a one-point lead with 45 seconds left. Dynes evened the score for USC when he made one of two free throws with 33 seconds to go.
USC led 35-30 at the half.
The Golden Gophers opened a 27-23 lead late in the first half. Tyson made a layup to give Minnesota a four-point advantage with 5:47 remaining before the break.
–Field Level Media
