USC Rallies Past Wisconsin To Snap Badgers27 Streak In Big Ten Thriller

On a frigid January afternoon in Madison, the USC Trojans staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the Wisconsin Badgers 73-71, snapping the Badgers’ five-game winning streak and shaking up the Big Ten landscape. Fans at the Kohl Center witnessed a contest that had all the makings of a March thriller—momentum swings, clutch performances, and a nerve-wracking finish that left both teams with plenty to ponder as the NCAA Tournament picture continues to evolve.

Entering the game, Wisconsin (14-6, 6-3 Big Ten) was riding high, having dismantled Penn State 98-71 in their previous outing and looking to solidify their status as a conference contender. The Badgers were also 7.5-point favorites according to most sportsbooks, with many expecting them to extend their win streak to six. Meanwhile, USC (15-5, 4-5 Big Ten) arrived in Madison as a team with something to prove. The Trojans had dropped four of their last six Big Ten games and, after a disappointing home loss to Northwestern, needed a signature road win to bolster their NCAA Tournament hopes.

From the opening tip, it was clear that both teams were desperate for a statement victory. The Trojans jumped out to an early lead, exploiting Wisconsin’s defensive lapses and hitting five of their first seven shots. Chad Baker-Mazara, the Auburn transfer and USC’s leading scorer, wasted no time making his presence felt. Baker-Mazara poured in 29 points—including five three-pointers—and was the engine behind USC’s offense throughout the contest. "He was just relentless," said one observer. "Every time Wisconsin tried to pull away, Baker-Mazara had an answer."

Wisconsin, however, was not about to let the Trojans escape easily. Nick Boyd, the San Diego State transfer, delivered yet another stellar performance for the Badgers. Boyd finished with 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting, six rebounds, and three assists—his 11th game with 20 or more points this season, ranking him second in the Big Ten. His efforts in the first half helped Wisconsin erase an early 10-point deficit. The Badgers’ resilience was on full display as they clawed their way back, holding USC scoreless for the final 2:40 of the first half and riding a late Austin Rapp corner three to take a 41-39 lead into the break.

The second half started with a bang for Wisconsin. Boyd erupted for a solo 7-0 run after USC’s first two buckets, igniting a 17-2 Badger surge that pushed the home team to a 58-46 lead with just 12 minutes remaining. At that point, it looked like the Badgers were about to run away with the contest. Nolan Winter (12 points, 6 rebounds) and John Blackwell (11 points, 9 rebounds) chipped in, and Wisconsin’s dominance on the offensive glass—grabbing a season-high 18 offensive rebounds—seemed to put them in control.

But the Trojans refused to fold. Baker-Mazara and forward Ezra Ausar (17 points) spearheaded a furious 16-2 run for USC over the next seven minutes, erasing the double-digit deficit and giving the Trojans a two-point lead with under five minutes to play. Jacob Cofie was a force on the boards, collecting 11 rebounds to go with his nine points and five assists. "We just kept fighting," Baker-Mazara said after the game. "We knew if we stuck together, we’d get our chance."

With the game hanging in the balance, both teams traded blows. John Blackwell tied the game at 65 with a pair of free throws with just over three minutes left. But Ausar responded with back-to-back baskets, and Baker-Mazara drove the lane for another crucial score. Jerry Easter II then calmly knocked down two free throws with two seconds remaining, giving USC a four-point cushion and all but sealing the victory.

Wisconsin’s shooting woes down the stretch proved costly. The Badgers made just four of their final 16 shots and missed 20 of their last 27 attempts overall, including a potential game-tying layup by Boyd with two seconds left. As head coach Greg Gard put it, "You have to be able to overcome rough shooting afternoons. I didn’t like our start from a defensive standpoint. We clawed our way back there. We have to be able to guard better without fouling. We let them get to the bonus too quickly, specifically in the second half."

Despite the loss, Wisconsin did several things well. They held USC to just 25% shooting from three-point range and out-rebounded the Trojans on the offensive glass. But their 34% field goal percentage and 24% mark from behind the arc ultimately doomed them. "It was a tough one to swallow," said Boyd, who has now scored 20-plus points in five of his last seven games. "We’ve got to finish better."

For USC, the win marks a potential turning point in their season. Head coach Eric Musselman, now in his second year at the helm, saw his team show resilience and composure in a hostile environment—qualities that could serve them well as the Big Ten schedule intensifies. The Trojans, who had to overcome the season-ending injury to leading scorer Rodney Rice earlier this year, leaned heavily on Baker-Mazara and Ausar, but also received key contributions from Cofie and their supporting cast.

The victory also adds intrigue to the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation. Wisconsin, long considered a lock, now faces questions after letting a double-digit lead slip away at home. USC, meanwhile, has a marquee road win to boost its postseason résumé. Both teams will look to regroup quickly: the Badgers host Minnesota next, hoping to bounce back in a rivalry showdown, while USC travels to Iowa for another tough Big Ten test.

Fans and analysts alike will be talking about this game for weeks. Was it a sign of things to come for a surging USC squad? Or a wake-up call for a Wisconsin team with championship aspirations? One thing’s for sure—the Big Ten just got a little more unpredictable.