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USC players get into altercation with Purdue fans following Big Ten Tournament loss

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•03/13/25•

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USC altercation with Purdue fans after the Big Ten tournament loss
Screenshot courtesy of @bradysjacobs/X

After USC’s loss to Purdue Thursday night in the Big Ten tournament, Trojans players got into an apparent altercation with Boilermakers fans. According to the person who caught the incident on video, the fans were heckling the players off the court after the game.

USC and Purdue went back-and-forth during Thursday’s matchup in Indianapolis. The two teams were tied at halftime, and the Boilermakers ultimately came away with the win when Braden Smith hit the game-sealing free throws.

As USC was heading back to the locker room, tensions were high. Things then boiled over as the altercation broke out with Purdue fans.

Trey Kaufman-Renn led all scorers with 30 points to help lead Purdue to the victory while Fletcher Loyer had 14 and Smith dropped 12 points to go with nine assists on the night. On the USC side, Desmond Claude led the Trojans with 18 points and Wesley Yates had 13.

USC led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but the two teams largely went back-and-forth from there. The Trojans’ last lead was at 5:39 to go before Purdue jumped out in front the rest of the way.

Foul trouble was crucial for USC, though. Rashaun Agee fouled out, and three other players finished with four fouls. In the second half, though, some calls came into question. A no-call, particularly, stood out.

With five seconds to go, Wesley Yates appeared to get fouled, but play continued. The Trojans expressed frustration afterward, and Eric Musselman didn’t directly call out the officiating after game, but said USC has to “earn respect” as one of the newcomers in the Big Ten.

“I saw what everybody saw, you know what I mean?” Musselman said. “I appreciate it, Ryan, but … my daughter’s at home. She watched it on TV. She’s a freshman in high school. My mom’s obviously living in San Diego watching it. All you’ve got to do is go on Twitter.

“Look, we played well enough to win. That’s all I can say. I’m going to keep reiterating give Purdue credit. We’re new, we’ve got to earn respect.”

USC dropped below .500 with the loss, finishing 16-17 overall and 7-13 in its first Big Ten slate. Barring a postseason invite, Musselman’s first season in Los Angeles is in the books. Purdue, meanwhile, advances to take on Michigan on Friday in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.