The undefeated USC Trojans rode the wave out Monday afternoon. After surviving a tense finish, the Trojans defeated the Boise State Broncos (4-2) in the opening round of the 2025 Southwest Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center, continuing their five-game win streak.
The Trojans set the tone early by getting out to a 27-18 start in the first half. Boise State chipped away at the lead, but USC controlled the pace just enough while staying sharp on defense and limiting turnovers on both sides of the floor to have the lead heading into halftime, 34-32.
Throughout the second half, Boise State continued to close the gap, and with under a minute remaining, the Trojans needed a signature moment to secure the win.
That moment came from junior guard Rodney Rice, shooting 57% from three point range and executed a decisive play with 14.8 seconds left on the game clock. Rice split two defenders at the top of the key and drove to the rim for the layup, drawing a foul and sinking the free throw to give USC the go-ahead lead at 68-65.
Broncos senior guard Javan Buchanan scored 18 points to lead Boise State and sophomore forward Pearson Carmichael added 14 points off the bench. The Broncos refused to roll over, but their 3-point shooting faltered at the worst possible time with the team finishing just 5-of-25 from beyond the arc.
For USC, senior forward Chad Baker‑Mazara added 11 points and eight rebounds, helping anchor the Trojans’ inside game and attack the glass along with senior forward Ezra Ausar who had nine points, six rebounds and two steals, providing the kind of balanced contribution needed in tournament play.
The final minute captured the chaos and control that defined the afternoon game. In total, the Broncos trailed for more than 25 minutes. Boise State briefly slipped ahead 59–58 earlier in the second half but never reclaimed the lead. From there, USC commanded the game and swung the momentum permanently in their favor.
It wasn’t just a perfect 5-0 start for USC, but a statement that they can grind out close games in a tournament environment, under pressure. The Trojans will advance to the semifinals to face Seton Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 25.