Alijah Arenas scores 11 of his 24 in final 4 minutes, USC beats Penn State 77-75

Freshman guard Alijah Arenas delivered a spectacular performance for the USC Trojans, scoring 11 of his 24 points in the final four minutes to secure a 77-75 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. The high-stakes collegiate matchup culminated in a dramatic fashion when Arenas sinking a go-ahead basket with just 0.7 seconds remaining on the clock to break a late-game deadlock. This clutch performance was essential for USC as they sought to maintain their momentum in a tightly contested non-conference battle against a resilient Big Ten opponent. The game remained competitive throughout the second half, with both teams trading leads in a physical display of offensive efficiency. Penn State had managed to neutralize much of USC's perimeter threat for the middle portion of the game, but they struggled to contain Arenas during the closing stretch. The young star, who is the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, showed poise beyond his years by attacking the rim and drawing fouls during the critical 'winning time' of the final period. Statistically, Arenas was the clear standout, but the victory was a collective effort for the Trojans, who had to overcome a balanced scoring attack from the Nittany Lions. Penn State’s defense momentarily faltered in the final seconds, allowing Arenas to find the space necessary for his game-winning shot. This win marks a significant milestone for the USC basketball program as they continue to integrate a talented roster of newcomers into their system, proving they can execute under extreme pressure against high-major competition.