In a story of perseverance and frustration, five-star freshman Alijah Arenas made his long-awaited and emotional college debut for USC on Wednesday night, nine months after a serious car accident.
His triumphant
return was ultimately spoiled, however, as the Northwestern Wildcats handed
the Trojans a critical 74-68 defeat at Galen Center, sending USC
spiraling further in the Big Ten standings.
A Dream Debut Meets a Harsh Reality
The moment was
years in the making for Alijah Arenas. After surviving a harrowing car
crash in April that hospitalized him for six days, followed by a grueling rehab
on a knee injured upon his return to practice, the highly-touted guard finally
took the court.
His first
collegiate points came on a breathtaking play—a spinning, mid-air finger roll
that reminded everyone of his elite talent.
“He should be a
high school senior,” said USC Coach Eric Musselman, referencing Arenas’
reclassification.
Reclassified,
missed an entire summer, and then you’re throwing him in the middle of Big Ten
play.
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The coach openly
questioned his own decision to start Arenas and play him for 29 minutes.
The freshman
finished with 8 points on 3-of-15 shooting, visibly fatigued and at one
point needing his knee checked on the bench. The debut, while a personal
victory, unfolded within a team collapse.
"Horrific" Shooting Dooms USC
Arenas' arrival did
not solve the Trojans' systemic issues. USC’s shooting woes reached a
catastrophic level in the loss.
- Free Throw Line: The Trojans shot a
dismal 26 of 43 (60.5%) from the stripe.
- Three-Point Line: After hitting their
first two attempts, USC proceeded to miss 11 consecutive threes,
finishing 4 of 15 from deep.
Musselman bluntly
labeled the shooting performance horrific.
The problems were
compounded when leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara fouled out after
just 13 minutes of play, a decision Musselman called unheard of for
a sixth-year player.
Marshall Marsh’s Valiant Effort Falls Short
Once again, it was
backup guard Marshall Marsh who tried to single-handedly rescue the
Trojans.
A week after a
17-point second half against Maryland, Marsh exploded for 19 points after
halftime against Northwestern.
His heroic effort
kept USC within striking distance, never letting the Wildcats' lead grow beyond
eight points.
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However, with a
chance to cut the lead to one possession in the final 15 seconds, Marsh’s
driving layup flew errantly, sealing the defeat.
Northwestern senior Nick
Martinelli proved unstoppable, scoring 22 points to fend off
every USC rally.
What’s Next for a Reeling USC Squad?
The loss marks
three defeats in the last five games for USC (14-5 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) and
raises urgent questions about the season's trajectory.
The debut of Arenas was the most anticipated at USC since Evan Mobley was meant to be a turning
point. Instead, it highlighted the deep-rooted issues a single player cannot
fix.
“I don’t know,”
Musselman said postgame about the path forward. “I guess I’ll just keep
searching.”
The Trojans must
quickly find answers, as the promise of Arenas’ talent now coincides with the
pressure of salvaging a promising season that is rapidly slipping away.
Gear Up for Game Day:
- USC
Trojans Basketball Jersey: Rep the Trojans in style, home or away.
- Wilson
Evolution Game Basketball: Practice with the same high-performance ball
used by college programs.
- Gatorade
Performance Powder: The essential fuel for athletes, from rehab
to game-time performance.
Source Information:
This game recap is based on official statistics, press conference quotes, and game reporting.- For official USC Athletics
news: USC Trojans Basketball
- For live game stats and
schedules: Big Ten Conference
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