Playing without Desmond Claude, USC falls to Northwestern in final seconds
EVANSTON, Ill. — The USC men’s basketball team is getting a crash course in the ups and downs of life in the Big Ten Conference, going from the high of a Top-10 upset to the low of a heartbreaking defeat in a matter of days.
Nick Martinelli scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and his scoop shot with 2.6 seconds left helped Northwestern hold off short-handed USC, 77-75, on Tuesday night.
Martinelli drove the baseline, attracting a double-team before getting a step between the two USC defenders and creating enough space to loft the shot and give Northwestern (13-10 overall, 4-8 Big Ten) the lead in the closing seconds. Out of a timeout, USC (13-9, 5-6) put the ball in the hands of Clark Slajchert, who took a few dribbles before a Wildcats defender knocked it out of bounds and time expired.
Slajchert converted a four-point play on a 3-pointer from the top of the arc and a free throw with 29 seconds left to tie the score at 75-all. With 1:54 left and USC trailing 72-67, Slajchert also drew a foul on Blake Smith from behind the arc but went 1 for 3 from the line.
Northwestern led 33-31 and stretched the margin to 15 points at 59-44 over the first 10 minutes of the second half before USC fought its way back but never took the lead.
Martinelli recorded a career-high 10 offensive rebounds and reserve Justin Mullins scored 14 points for Northwestern.
Slajchert scored 24 points on 9-for-11 shooting to pace USC, which was without Desmond Claude, who leads the team in scoring (16.2 points per game) and assists (4.2). Claude, who suffered a bone bruise in his leg but continued to play in USC’s 70-64 home win against then-No. 7 Michigan State on Saturday, had been listed as questionable before the game.
Slajchert shot 4 for 4 from 3-point range on the way to his best scoring game since posting 32 points for Penn last February.
“We recruited him because of his offensive ability,” USC coach Eric Musselman said. “He scored 20 points against us at Arkansas when he was a freshman, and he had a huge game against Kentucky last season. We showed our team his highlights before the game to help build his confidence, not only in himself but also in the team. He was phenomenal offensively.”
Wesley Yates III scored 15 points for the Trojans and Chibuzo Agbo added 14. USC got an uneven performance from Saint Thomas, who had eight assists and eight rebounds but scored just four points and committed four turnovers. Rashaun Agee scored seven points before fouling out.
USC shot 51% from the field and held Northwestern to 40.9%, but the Wildcats outrebounded the Trojans 43-27, which led to 15 more field goal attempts for the hosts.
“Once we knew Desmond wasn’t playing, we had some guys who really stepped up for us,” Musselman said. “But we didn’t rebound the basketball, so it’s a tough one. We only have nine more opportunities this year, and as a competitor, you want to come out and win this game.”
Northwestern, which snapped a three-game losing streak, is adjusting to being without senior Brooks Barnhizer, who was averaging 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists before a foot injury brought an end to his Wildcats career.
UP NEXT
USC plays at No. 7 Purdue on Friday at 4 p.m. PT.