Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners @ USC Trojans
USC escapes with 63-59 win over Bakersfield
LOS ANGELES -- Byron Wesley scored 20 points, making a pair of go-ahead free throws with 1:02 remaining, and Southern California rallied to beat Cal State Bakersfield 63-59 Sunday night after trailing most of the second half.
Nikola Jovanovic added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Trojans (7-3), who improved to 6-0 at home in their first game in a week. They have won seven of their last nine. Wesley made 12 of 14 free throws, with the Trojans hitting 30 of 46 from the line.
Issiah Grayson scored 17 points, including four of his team's seven 3-pointers, to lead the Roadrunners (5-6). They lost their fifth in a row while playing the second of five straight on the road. He was their only player in double figures.
The Trojans made 9 of 12 free throws in the final 1:40 to tie the game and take their first lead since early in the second half. A pair by D.J. Haley tied the game at 58-all before Wesley's pair when Brandon Barnes fouled out gave the Trojans a 60-58 lead.
Haley then made 1 of 2 for a 61-58 lead.
Tyrell Corbin missed the front end of a 1-and-1 before Wesley was fouled again. He missed the first and made the second for a 62-58 lead.
Grayson made 1 of 2 free throws to draw the Roadrunners to 62-59. Stefon Johnson's potential tying 3-pointer hit the rim with 4 seconds to go.
Bakersfield opened the second half on a 14-8 run to take a 42-36 lead. Grayson scored eight straight points, including two 3-pointers sandwiched around a pair of free throws.
The Trojans answered with a 10-4 spurt that tied the game at 46-all. Six of their points came on free throws.
The Roadrunners regained the lead, 51-48, on five straight points, highlighted by Barnes' block that led to Javonte Maynor's 3-pointer.
USC freshman Julian Jacobs came streaking in for a one-handed dunk on a fast break, but missed it and was promptly benched.
The Roadrunners were 22 of 61 from the field, taking 25 more shots than the Trojans, who had a 30-24 edge in the paint.
Game Information
Los Angeles, CA

Referee:Verne Harris
Referee:Don McAllister
Referee:Keith Kimble

2025-26 Standings
| Big West ConferenceBig West Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 15-5 | - | 23-12 |
| Hawai'i | 14-6 | 1 | 24-9 |
| UC San Diego | 12-8 | 3 | 23-11 |
| Cal State Northridge | 12-8 | 3 | 20-14 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 12-8 | 3 | 18-16 |
| UC Davis | 11-9 | 4 | 19-14 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 11-9 | 4 | 18-14 |
| Cal Poly | 10-10 | 5 | 14-19 |
| Long Beach State | 6-14 | 9 | 10-22 |
| UC Riverside | 5-15 | 10 | 10-22 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 2-18 | 13 | 8-24 |
| Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 19-1 | - | 37-3 |
| Nebraska | 15-5 | 4 | 28-7 |
| Michigan State | 15-5 | 4 | 27-8 |
| Illinois | 15-5 | 4 | 28-9 |
| Wisconsin | 14-6 | 5 | 24-11 |
| Purdue | 13-7 | 6 | 30-9 |
| UCLA | 13-7 | 6 | 24-12 |
| Ohio State | 12-8 | 7 | 21-13 |
| Iowa | 10-10 | 9 | 24-13 |
| Indiana | 9-11 | 10 | 18-14 |
| Minnesota | 8-12 | 11 | 15-18 |
| USC | 7-13 | 12 | 18-14 |
| Washington | 7-13 | 12 | 16-17 |
| Rutgers | 6-14 | 13 | 14-20 |
| Northwestern | 5-15 | 14 | 15-19 |
| Oregon | 5-15 | 14 | 12-20 |
| Maryland | 4-16 | 15 | 12-21 |
| Penn State | 3-17 | 16 | 12-20 |
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