Chad Baker-Mazara scored 29 points, including two free throws with 10.9 seconds left in overtime, and USC held on for a 70-69 victory over Minnesota in a Big Ten Conference game 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 consecutive losses. Jacob Cofie and Gabe Dynes contributed nine points each.
Cade Tyson scored 20 points and collected 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 tied at 66, all late in overtime when Ausar made a jump shot to put USC up 68-66 with 1:03 left.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson responded with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give Minnesota a 69-68 lead with 27 seconds remaining.
Baker-Mazara drove to the paint and fouled Reynolds on USC’s next 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 launch 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 left.
Minnesota came roaring back to briefly take a one-point lead with 45 seconds remaining. Dynes tied the score for USC when he made one of two free throws with 33 seconds remaining.
USC led 35-30 at halftime.
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 left before the break.
–Field level media
