STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless defensive pressure and crucial plays in the final seconds, the Southern California Trojans escaped the Bryce Jordan Center with a narrow 77-75 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions in a Big Ten men’s basketball contest Sunday.

The outcome was decided in a frantic final 20 seconds. With the score tied at 75, USC’s Alijah Arenas drove the lane and converted a contested layup with just 7 seconds remaining to put the Trojans ahead. Penn State’s ensuing attempt to answer was disrupted, and time expired before the Nittany Lions could get a final shot off, sealing the win for the visitors.

The game’s most critical sequence began with 37 seconds left and USC clinging to a 73-71 lead. Penn State’s Freddie Dilione V drove and found Dominick Stewart for a layup to tie the game with 20 seconds on the clock, setting the stage for Arenas’ heroics. The sophomore guard from Woodland Hills, California, took the inbounds pass, navigated a screen, and attacked the basket for the decisive score, finishing with a game-high 24 points.

The contest was a statistical dead heat, reflecting the tense finish. Both teams committed 15 turnovers, with each converting them into nearly identical point totals—20 for USC, 19 for Penn State. The squads also tied with 13 fastbreak points apiece. Penn State held a slight edge in field goal percentage, shooting 51.7% to USC’s 48.3%, and outscored the Trojans 42-38 in the paint. However, Southern California’s performance at the free-throw line proved pivotal, making 13 of 18 attempts compared to Penn State’s 9 of 15.

USC’s victory was anchored by its backcourt. Arenas, the team’s leading scorer, added three rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 34 minutes. Point guard Kam Woods of Bessemer, Alabama, orchestrated the offense with a season-high nine assists to go with 13 points and five rebounds. His backcourt mate, Jordan Marsh, provided a key spark off the bench with nine points, including two critical three-pointers.

Inside, the Trojans received balanced contributions. Ezra Ausar and Jacob Cofie each scored 13 points, with Cofie pulling down seven rebounds. The defensive presence of 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes was also a factor, as the freshman from Independence, Kentucky, blocked four shots and grabbed seven rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.

Penn State, which fell to 10-14 overall, was led by a stellar performance from Dilione. The guard from Fayetteville, North Carolina, scored 23 points and dished out four assists in 38 minutes. Josh Reed added 17 points and four rebounds, while Croatian center Ivan Juric posted a strong line of 13 points and eight rebounds. Dominick Stewart chipped in 11 points.

The Nittany Lions controlled much of the first half, leading by as many as six points and taking a 40-36 advantage into the break behind efficient offense and active hands that generated eight first-half steals. The second half saw eight ties and six lead changes as neither team could build a cushion larger than five points.

Southern California’s defensive intensity ramped up after halftime, holding Penn State to 35 second-half points after allowing 40 in the first. The Trojans also tightened their ball security, committing only seven turnovers in the final 20 minutes after coughing it up eight times in the first half.

With the win, Southern California improves to 18-6 overall and continues a strong run in conference play, having won three of its last four. The Trojans travel to face Ohio State on Wednesday. Penn State, which has lost two straight, hits the road for its next contest at Washington, also on Wednesday.

An announced crowd of 6,504 at the Bryce Jordan Center witnessed a contest that exceeded pregame analytics, which gave USC a 65.3% probability to win. The combined point total of 152 fell under the betting over/under line of 155.