Southern California storms back to stun Wisconsin
Chad Baker-Mazara had 29 points and Ezra Ausar added 17 as visiting Southern California rallied down the stretch for a 73-71 victory over Wisconsin in a Big Ten matchup Sunday in Madison, Wis.
USC (15-5, 4-5 Big Ten) rallied from a 58-46 deficit over the final 12 minutes to snap Wisconsin's five-game winning streak.
Nick Boyd had 29 points and Nolan Winter added 12 for Wisconsin (14-6, 6-3), which lost for just the second time at home this season.
Ausar tallied consecutive baskets underneath to put the Trojans up 69-65 with 1:23 remaining.
Boyd hit two free throws to cut the lead to 71-69 with 41.3 seconds left.
USC freshman Alijah Arenas missed a jumper from the lane, but Boyd missed a twisting drive with two seconds remaining.
Jerry Easter II hit two free throws to make it a two-possession game at 73-69 with two seconds left.
USC erased the double-digit deficit with a 16-2 run, taking the lead 62-60 on Baker-Mazara's 3-pointer with just under five minutes remaining.
Winter countered with a 3-pointer of his own to put Wisconsin back in front 63-62.
The Badgers, who led 41-39 at halftime, seemed to take control with a 17-2 run. Braeden Carrington's 3-pointer from the top left put Wisconsin ahead 58-46 with 12 minutes to play.
USC answered with eight consecutive points, pulling within 58-54 on a putback by Baker-Mazara as Wisconsin went almost four minutes without scoring.
Wisconsin, which trailed by 10 midway through the first half, rallied for a two-point lead at the break as the Trojans went without a field goal over the final 2:40.
Boyd scored six points during a 9-2 run that pulled Wisconsin even at 38.
Arenas hit the first of two free throws to put USC up 39-38, but Austin Rapp countered with a 3-pointer from the left corner.
Jaden Brownell put USC up 21-11 with just over 11 minutes remaining as Wisconsin hit just 4 of its first 14 shots, including 1 of 8 from deep.