In what felt like a potential Final Four preview, the visiting No. 6 Notre Dame Irish put together a masterclass performance that will be etched in the memories of college basketball fans for a long time. The Irish, who led wire-to-wire, played spoiler to a crowd of 7,894 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, defeating No. 3 USC 74-61 to hand the Trojans their first loss of the season.
The game had all the makings of an instant classic. Two of the top-ranked teams in the country, both with their sights set on a national championship, facing off in a battle of strength and wills. The atmosphere at the Galen Center was electric, with the sold-out crowd knowing they were in for a treat.
From the opening tip, it was clear that the Irish were on a mission. They came out hot, with their high-powered offense clicking on all cylinders. The Trojans, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm, and the Irish took full advantage.
Notre Dame's dominating performance was marked by a stifling defensive effort that held USC to just 61 points, their lowest total of the season. The Irish also controlled the boards, outrebounding the Trojans 40-31 and limiting them to just 6 second-chance points.
On the other end of the court, the Irish offense was firing on all cylinders. They shot 47% from the field, including 40% from 3-point range, and were led by a balanced attack that saw four players score in double figures.
The Irish's impressive performance marked their first win of the season over a top-10 opponent and sent a clear message to the rest of the college basketball world: Notre Dame is a team to be reckoned with.
For the Trojans, the loss was a tough one to swallow. After storming out of the gates to a perfect start to the season, USC was brought back down to earth by the Irish's dominating performance. Despite the setback, the Trojans remain one of the top teams in the country and will look to bounce back from this loss in their next outing.
As for Notre Dame, they'll look to keep their momentum going as they continue their season. With a massive win over a top-3 opponent under their belt, the Irish will be looking to carry this momentum forward and make some noise in the world of college basketball.