Northwestern Wildcats Upset USC Trojans in Close Contest
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 11:00 PM ET · Galen Center
Northwestern Wildcats 74, USC Trojans 68, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Northwestern Wildcats vs USC Trojans?
Northwestern Wildcats beat USC Trojans 74-68 at Galen Center on January 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Northwestern Wildcats vs USC Trojans?
USC Trojans were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -298 (about 75% implied). The underdog won.
In an exciting matchup at the Galen Center, the Northwestern Wildcats secured a 74-68 victory over the USC Trojans, marking a significant upset for the visiting team. This game was particularly noteworthy as USC entered with a home record of 14-5 and had been a strong contender in the NCAAB landscape, while Northwestern's record stood at 9-10. The Trojans were favored by 6.5 points according to DraftKings, with a total set at 149.5.
USC's recent form had been a mix of highs and lows, as they posted a 6-4 record over their last ten games. However, they were on a one-game losing streak, having fallen to the Purdue Boilermakers just days prior with a score of 64-69. The Trojans had averaged 77.6 points scored per game while allowing 74.4 points during this stretch. Their last five games showed a decline, with an average of 67.8 points scored and 77.0 points allowed, indicating some defensive struggles.
Conversely, Northwestern's performance had been disappointing, with a record of 3-7 in their last ten outings and currently riding a five-game losing streak. They averaged 74.4 points scored and allowed 72.3 points, suggesting they had been competitive in many of their games despite the losses. Their last five games were particularly troubling, with an average of just 69.0 points scored while allowing 78.6, underscoring a need for improvement on both ends of the court.
When examining home and away performances, USC had a home record of 4-2 in their last six games at the Galen Center, while Northwestern struggled significantly on the road, holding an away record of 0-3 in their last three games. This disparity added to the anticipation of the game, as USC was expected to leverage their home-court advantage.
The teams had met previously in the 2025 season, where USC fell to Northwestern with a close score of 75-77. This prior encounter added an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup, as both teams were aware of the competitive nature displayed in their earlier meeting.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the overall performance of both teams suggested that they were fielding their regular rosters. The absence of key players can often shift the dynamics of a game, but both teams appeared to have their core players available for this contest.
The conditions at the Galen Center were typical for a basketball game, with no adverse weather factors reported, allowing for a standard indoor environment conducive to high-level play. The atmosphere was likely charged, given the stakes of the game and the recent performances of both teams.
As the game unfolded, Northwestern managed to maintain their composure, especially in the closing moments. Key free throws from players like Ezra Ausar and Jayden Reid helped to seal the victory, with Ausar contributing significantly with a dunk that kept the momentum in favor of the Wildcats. In the final moments, Northwestern's ability to convert free throws proved crucial, as they capitalized on USC's struggles to close out the game effectively.
This result not only adds to the narrative of Northwestern's resilience but also raises questions about USC's trajectory as they look to bounce back from this defeat. The Wildcats' win could serve as a turning point for their season, while USC will need to reassess their strategies moving forward to regain their winning form.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | USC -6.5 | 149.5 o -108 / u -112 | Northwestern Wildcats +240 · USC Trojans -298 |
Leaders
- PointsJordan Marsh19USC Trojans
- AssistsEzra Ausar3USC Trojans
- ReboundsJacob Cofie12USC Trojans
- PointsNick Martinelli22Northwestern Wildcats
- AssistsNick Martinelli5Northwestern Wildcats
- ReboundsTyler Kropp9Northwestern Wildcats
Recent form
USC Trojans
Last 10: 6-4Streak L177.6 scored · 74.4 allowed per game4-2 at home
- L64-69vs Purdue BoilermakersJan 17
- W88-71vs Maryland TerrapinsJan 14
- W70-69at Minnesota Golden GophersJan 10
- L51-80at Michigan State SpartansJan 6
- L66-96at Michigan WolverinesJan 3
- W102-63vs UC Santa Cruz Banana SlugsDec 21
- W97-70vs UTSA RoadrunnersDec 18
- W68-61vs Washington State CougarsDec 15
- W94-81at San Diego TorerosDec 10
- L76-84vs Washington HuskiesDec 6
Northwestern Wildcats
Last 10: 3-7Streak L574.4 scored · 72.3 allowed per game0-3 away
- L58-77vs Nebraska CornhuskersJan 17
- L68-79vs Illinois Fighting IlliniJan 15
- L75-77at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsJan 11
- L66-76at Michigan State SpartansJan 8
- L78-84vs Minnesota Golden GophersJan 3
- W80-60vs Howard BisonDec 30
- L58-61at Butler BulldogsDec 20
- W86-70vs Valparaiso BeaconsDec 17
- W93-53vs Jackson State TigersDec 13
- L82-86vs Ohio State BuckeyesDec 6
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Northwestern Wildcats | USC Trojans |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-62 | 20-52 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 38 |
| Three-pointers | 3-15 | 2-13 |
| Three-point % | 20 | 15 |
| Free throws | 15-18 | 26-43 |
| Free throw % | 83 | 60 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 27 |
| Assists | 22 | 13 |
| Steals | 3 | 3 |
| Blocks | 1 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 6 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 4 |
| Fast-break points | 6 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 44 | 28 |
| Fouls | 25 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 8 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 55 | 31 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half48-42Jordan Marsh makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-43Jordan Marsh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-45Chad Baker-Mazara makes layup
- 2nd Half50-45Max Green makes driving layup (Nick Martinelli assists)
- 2nd Half50-46Chad Baker-Mazara makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-47Chad Baker-Mazara makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-47Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-47Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-49Jordan Marsh makes driving layup
- 2nd Half53-49Jake West makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-49Jake West makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-50Jordan Marsh makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-51Jordan Marsh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-51Arrinten Page makes 8-foot hook shot (Tre Singleton assists)
- 2nd Half56-53Jordan Marsh makes 5-foot floating jump shot (Jacob Cofie assists)
- 2nd Half57-53Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-54Ezra Ausar makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-55Ezra Ausar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-55Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half59-55Nick Martinelli makes driving layup (Tyler Kropp assists)
- 2nd Half60-56Jordan Marsh makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-57Jordan Marsh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-59Jordan Marsh makes layup (Ezra Ausar assists)
- 2nd Half62-59Tyler Kropp makes layup
- 2nd Half63-59Tyler Kropp makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half65-59Nick Martinelli makes 9-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half65-60Ezra Ausar makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-61Ezra Ausar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-63Jordan Marsh makes driving layup
- 2nd Half67-63Nick Martinelli makes 18-foot turnaround jump shot (Max Green assists)
- 2nd Half69-63Tyler Kropp makes layup (Nick Martinelli assists)
- 2nd Half69-64Ezra Ausar makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-65Ezra Ausar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-65Jayden Reid makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-65Jayden Reid makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-67Ezra Ausar makes 1-foot dunk (Alijah Arenas assists)
- 2nd Half72-67Jake West makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-67Jake West makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-68Ezra Ausar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-68Jayden Reid makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours USC Trojans, below favours Northwestern Wildcats.
Venue
- Galen CenterLos Angeles, CA
- Attendance4853
- OfficialsMike Reed, Kelly Pfeifer, Jason Phillips
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond