Gophers coach Niko Medved slammed his clipboard onto the Williams Arena floor during a timeout huddle early in Friday’s second half against Southern Cal. Minnesota’s lackadaisical play allowed the Trojans to go on a 6-0 spurt and extend its lead 41-30. After only 54 seconds was played, Medved ha d seen enough. The deficit became 13 points, but Minnesota chipped away, forced overtime but fell 70-69 to USC at The Barn. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 09: Isaac Asuma #1 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers dribbles the ball against Kam Woods #13 of the Southern California Trojans in the first half at Williams Arena on January 09, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) In the extra session, Jaylen Crocker-Johnson made a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to give Minnesota a 69-68 lead. On the next possession, USC star Chad Baker-Mazara got a foul call when falling to the court and he made both free throws to retake the lead at 70-69. The home fans booed that decisive call, and many others, down the final stretch. “Man, we just needed to make one more play and we just couldn’t find a way to get the job done,” Medved said. On the last play, Cade Tyson posted up, but had the ball poked away; he recovered it, but a late heave was off the mark. “Just couldn’t make it happen,” said Tyson, who had 20 points on 5 of 16 shooting. Minnesota (10-6, 3-2 Big Ten) fell to 9-1 at home this season and snapped a five-game winning streak. In regulation, Minnesota took the lead at 63-62 with Tyson’s two free throws with 45 seconds remaining. But Gabe Dynes made one free throw to tie it again at 63-63 with 28 seconds left. Tyson’s game-winning shot attempt in regulation was short with five seconds left, and USC’s Ezra Ausar’s last-second attempt was off the mark. Minnesota forced 14 turnovers on USC, but had only six points off them. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 09: Grayson Grove #2 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers goes up for a shot against Chad Baker-Mazara #4 of the Southern California Trojans in the first half at Williams Arena on January 09, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trojans defeated the Golden Gophers 70-69 in overtime. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) “I thought we had an opportunity to hurt them a little bit more in transition than we did,” Medved said. “I don’t think we got enough opportunities that way. … Probably not as good as we needed.” Baker-Mazara, who was averaging 19.3 points per gam, scored 29 points on Friday, but was held scoreless over the last eight minutes of regulation and four minutes of overtime until those final free throws. Langston Reynolds and Crocker-Johnson each picked up two early fouls and sat for the the final eight minutes of the first half. Minnesota was up 22-21 when both went to the bench and USC outscored Minnesota 14-8 to take a 35-30 lead at the break. USC’s 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes had eight first half points on 4-of-4 shooting and even with Crocker-Johnson in foul trouble, Medved didn’t turn to backup center Nemo Turner. Related Articles Men’s basketball: As roster dwindled, Gophers connected Gophers hold off late rally and upset No. 19 Iowa When Gophers men’s basketball wins a road game, it’s snack time Men’s basketball: Gophers second-half surge leads to 84-78 win at Northwestern Huge challenge for short-handed Gophers men’s basketball: 18 straight Big Ten games ...read more read less