Adonis Ratliff and Alijah Arenas Lead No. 21 USC Over Milwaukee

Trojans roll past Milwaukee behind explosive freshman debuts

Adonis Ratliff racked up 25 points in his collegiate debut, setting a blistering pace as No. 21 Southern California cruised to a 95-63 victory over Milwaukee on Monday night in Los Angeles. As reported by the Associated Press, the dominant season-opening performance showcased a revamped Trojans roster that never trailed and controlled the contest from the opening tip.

USC shot an impressive 56.9% from the field, hitting 12 of 22 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. The offensive surge gave coach Eric Musselman his third straight season-opening win at the helm of the program. Adonis Ratliff spearheaded the attack by shooting 7 of 10 overall, including a 5-of-7 mark from long distance, while adding six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals.

Darius Ratliff and Alijah Arenas deliver immediate freshman impact

The youthful energy extended well beyond the night’s leading scorer. Darius Ratliff, Adonis’ twin brother and one of the twin sons of 16-year NBA veteran Theo Ratliff, chipped in 14 points and five blocks in his debut. He shot 5 of 10 from the field and connected on his only 3-point attempt. Alijah Arenas added 21 points alongside a career-high eight rebounds, further cementing the immediate impact of the program’s decorated freshman class.

Meanwhile, returning contributors bolstered the box score. Rodney Rice posted 15 points and nine assists in his first game back since suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last year. KJ Lewis contributed 10 points to round out the double-digit scorers for the Trojans.

Defense fuels decisive first-half run

USC built a commanding 46-29 halftime advantage by combining efficient perimeter shooting with lockdown defense. The hosts limited Milwaukee to 53.6% shooting in the opening frame while forcing nine turnovers, with six of those coming during a frantic 5:10 stretch.

The defining sequence of the game arrived midway through the half when the Trojans strung together a 15-0 run. That defensive clampdown kept the Panthers scoreless for more than seven minutes, pushing the margin into double digits where it stayed for the remainder of the evening.

For Milwaukee, Amare Hereford led the scoring with 14 points, and Tre Norman added 13. The Panthers suffered a further setback in the second half when guard John Lovelace Jr. injured his left leg landing awkwardly after a layup. He walked off the floor accompanied by an athletic trainer and did not return.

Upcoming matchups

Milwaukee looks to rebound when it travels to face Santa Clara on Wednesday. USC returns to action on Sunday, hosting Wichita State at home.