USC Escapes Troy in 3OT on a Buzzer Beater
In a frantic finish, USC secured a 107-106 victory over Troy in triple overtime, improving to 4-0 this season. Chad Baker-Mazara scored a career-high 34 points, and Jordan Marsh hit a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer to seal the win in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
Key moments included Troy taking the lead late in the third overtime after Baker-Mazara’s drive helped spark a late USC rally, but Troy’s defense tightened in the extra period. With about 10 seconds remaining in regulation, Troy rebounded Baker-Mazara’s missed drive and forced a turnover in the front court; Rodney Rice retrieved the loose ball and found Marsh for the game-winning shot from almost straightaway.
For USC, Rodney Rice contributed 26 points and nine assists, while Ezra Ausar added 22 points. USC outrebounded Troy 63-39, including a 25-7 margin on the offensive glass. Cooper Campbell delivered a career-high 32 points for Troy, with 12 rebounds and eight assists, and Theo Seng (20) and Victor Valdes (24) also contributed significant scoring. Campbell started the final overtime with a pair of his six 3-pointers to force extra play, and Troy’s Dowd posted 19 points and 12 rebounds.
“Campbell forced overtime with a 3-pointer from the right wing a couple steps behind the line with 7.8 seconds to play, tying the game at 68,”
the report notes, while Rice’s late turnaround jumper bounced off the rim as time expired in regulation. In overtime, Seng nailed two layups in the closing seconds to force another period, but USC ultimately rode a late surge to victory.
Final overtime runs: USC surged in the third overtime with a 10-3 run to erase a six-point Troy lead with 1:43 remaining. Marsh’s heroics capped the night as USC maintained the advantage to the end.
Record lines: USC (4-0) vs Troy (4-3). Troy’s Valdes dished an assist on Campbell’s decisive 3-pointer, and Dowd’s late double-double underscored Troy’s resilience.
Note on game context: Troy entered the matchup after an 108-107 double-overtime win at San Diego State on Tuesday, illustrating a competitive stretch for both teams in recent days.
Author's note: The closely contested, multi-overtime finish showcased USC’s clutch shooting and Troy’s persistent execution, concluding with a dramatic buzzer-beater that defined the night.
Author summary
USC defeated Troy 107-106 in triple overtime, led by Chad Baker-Mazara’s 34 points and a game-winning buzzer-beater by Jordan Marsh, highlighting a dramatic, back-and-forth finish that kept USC undefeated this season. [120–200 characters]
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