After a turbulent season filled with close losses and inconsistent performances, the USC men’s basketball team entered the College Basketball Crown tournament in Las Vegas with something to prove. Tuesday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, they did just that — securing an 89-60 victory over Tulane after taking about a three-week break.

“I thought we played a little bit rusty with the 14 turnovers, but super happy and proud of the 21 assists. I thought we really shared the ball tonight,” said Head Coach Eric Musselman in a postgame press conference. “A lot of positive things … We’ve got to turn the page really quickly and get ready for a Villanova team that’s … big and can really shoot the three.” 

The Trojans were stifling on defense, and graduate forward Rashaun Agee led the way with 27 points on the offensive end. Showcasing USC’s (17-17, 7-13 Big Ten) potential when firing on all cylinders, the victory marked the program’s first postseason win in a non-conference tournament since 2021 and set the stage for a quarterfinal clash that could reignite the Trojan season.

From the opening tip, USC wasted no time establishing control. Junior guard Desmond Claude opened the scoring with a smooth layup, and Agee followed with a bucket of his own. The Trojans’ ball movement was crisp, and their defense disrupted Tulane’s (19-15, 12-6 American Athletic Conference) rhythm early. Shortly after, graduate guard Clark Slajchert — playing in his 100th career game — drained a two-point jump shot to extend the lead to 11-6, and USC never looked back.

“[Claude] is a downhill guard [with my ability] to shoot the three, it spaces the big[s] out and allows him to be able to drive for layups and mid-range shots,” Agee said.

The Green Wave struggled to find any offensive momentum in the first half, missing six of their first nine shots. Tulane’s offensive struggles reached a low point midway through the half when they went over six minutes without a field goal. 

By halftime, the Trojans led 39-24, holding Tulane to just 36.4% shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Agee had already racked up 12 points, six rebounds and an assist, while senior forward Saint Thomas dished out three assists in a masterful floor-general performance.

If Tulane had hopes of a comeback, USC snuffed them out quickly. Thomas opened the second half with a layup, and Agee, showing off his range, knocked down a corner three to push the lead to 46-31. The Green Wave briefly showed life with back-to-back baskets from junior guard Asher Woods and junior forward Gregg Glenn III, but USC was able to quell the potential of any momentum swing.

“We slow down, we get a little comfortable, we come in the huddle and coach gets on us, and we pick it back up,” Agee said. “That’s something we’ve dealt with all year, the flat line, and we’ve got to learn to stay consistent no matter what the lead is.” 

Graduate forward Matt Knowling provided critical minutes, scoring on possessions to keep the margin comfortable. Then, Agee took over, throwing down a dunk with 10:50 to go — which was followed by another dunk from Knowling.

From there, USC’s depth took over with a dominant 15-point run, highlighted by a dunk from freshman forward Jalen Shelley. By the final buzzer, the Trojans had secured their largest margin of victory — 29 points — since a 31-point victory against Washington March 5. Musselman was able to empty the bench — with even walk-on freshman forward Brit Burden adding a transition layup in the game’s final minute.

USC’s dominant performance against Tulane was fueled by a combination of offensive efficiency and defensive intensity. The Trojans shot a blistering 63.6% from the field while knocking down 9 of 18 threes. Defensively, they held off Tulane by closing out hard on shooters, rotating seamlessly and protecting the rim. Equally important was the Trojans’ ability to control the glass, out-rebounding Tulane 39-26 and limiting second-chance opportunities.

To continue their run in the tournament, the Trojans must continue to communicate effectively on defense, maintain their intensity on the glass and take pride in getting stops. Offensively, they need to resist the temptation to settle for quick shots when their offense is flowing effectively. Keeping turnovers in check will be another key factor, as live-ball turnovers could allow future opponents to get easy baskets in transition.

Perhaps most importantly, USC must carry forward the sense of urgency and purpose they displayed in this opening game. The Trojans played with a noticeable edge, as if determined to prove they belonged in postseason play. Maintaining that chip-on-the-shoulder mentality while staying disciplined in their approach could make them a dangerous team as the tournament progresses.

If they can build on this performance by continuing to play connected basketball at both ends of the floor, the Trojans have the potential to author an impressive postseason run that could redefine their season.

With this win, USC moves on to the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown, where they will face Villanova (20-14, 11-9 Big East) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Thursday at 6:30 p.m.