Five Takeaways from ASU's loss in the Maui Invitational championship game

USC vs. ASU in the Maui Invitational championship felt like a classic Pac-12 showdown reborn in paradise, a matchup the late Bill Walton would have jumped out of his seat for. Two former conference rivals, meeting for the first time since 2024, brought palpable energy to the Aloha State, where the sun is bright and the stakes even brighter.

ASU’s run in this tournament had been powered by senior guard Moe Odum, averaging 31 points through the first two games, including a dazzling 36-point explosion against Texas. But on Wednesday, the Trojans were unstoppable. Even without their leading scorer, junior guard Rodney Rice, USC shot a season-high 59.6% from the field. Odum’s 17 points weren’t enough to lift ASU over the line, as USC cruised to an 88-75 victory, leaving the Sun Devils’ championship dream just out of reach.

Here are five takeaways from the loss:

USC brings the MOEmentum to a halt

ASU rode two standout scoring performances from Odum, including a game-winner against Texas, into the championship round, supported by solid contributions from the rest of the roster. In this game, however, it became clear everyone was waiting for Odum to carry the offense again, and the hot streak never materialized.

That is not to say Odum was ineffective. He still scored 17 points, hitting 4-of-9 from three, but four assists paired with four turnovers and a night without a made two-pointer limited his impact. After a 19-point second half in the win over Washington State just a day earlier, he managed only 10 points on 2-of-8 shooting in the second half against USC.

ASU needed another heroic performance from Odum to stay competitive. While he clearly wanted to involve his teammates, only 58 points came from the rest of the roster, and shots were not falling at the rate he needed. The Sun Devils never found a reliable second option, and Odum never found the rhythm to carry the offense himself.

Second-chance points were the Sun Devils’ downfall

When your opponent is hitting 59.6% from the field, every missed shot is precious, and giving up second-chance points is a luxury you cannot afford. ASU did both.

USC dominated the glass, hauling in 12 offensive rebounds and converting 13 points off those extra opportunities. They extended possessions, drained the clock, and frustrated a Sun Devil team that trailed for 30 of the game’s 40 minutes. ASU grabbed nine offensive boards but could muster only six points from them.

Rebounding overall was a glaring problem. USC’s 12 offensive rebounds alone accounted for more than half of ASU’s total of 21. Even 7’1 freshman center Mossamba Diop, expected to anchor the glass, managed just two rebounds in 31 minutes. 

While the numbers are somewhat skewed by USC’s hot shooting, ASU still failed to capitalize on the few misses it did get, leaving points and momentum on the floor.

Fatigue hits ASU harder than its opponent

While both teams were playing their third game in as many days, the toll of a 9:30 AM local tip-off adversely affected the Sun Devils more than the Trojans. Signs of exhaustion were everywhere: sloppy box-outs, missed rebounds, slow closeouts, careless turnovers, and an overall inability to generate rhythm. ASU’s legs and their offense had run out of gas.

Arizona State went cold down the stretch, failing to hit a field goal in the final five minutes, and as the game progressed, it became clear the Sun Devils lacked the depth and energy to keep up with a red-hot USC. ASU was not only tied at halftime but still within three with nine minutes remaining, only to watch USC close the game on a decisive 22-12 run.

Odum had logged 101 minutes over the past three days, including 35 against the Trojans, while senior guard Anthony Johnson and Diop were in similar situations, pouring everything into the two previous nail-biters. By the second half, fatigue was impossible to ignore.

The Trojans outscored ASU’s bench 31-23, and the difference in depth was obvious even without top scorer Rice on the floor. ASU shot just 8-of-25 (32%) from the field and 3-of-12 (25%) from three in the final frame, turning the ball over five times, while USC maintained 58.6% shooting in the second half. 

Even the strategy that had kept ASU in the game early, forcing turnovers, fell short, as the Sun Devils finished just one turnover shy of USC’s total of 12.

Defensive shortcomings were on full display

The Trojans were red-hot, but ASU simply did not contest enough of their shots to claim they played good defense. This was not just USC executing a better offense; it was a failure to disrupt shots and challenge plays consistently.

Without Rice, senior guard Chad Baker-Mazara assumed the scoring mantle, hitting open shots, attacking the basket uncontested, and thriving in transition. He also dished four assists, and when on the floor, USC’s plus-minus was a staggering +20, highlighting how much control ASU allowed him.

Senior forward Ezra Ausar was flawless, going 6-for-6 for 14 points and attacking the paint with ease. ASU surrendered 42 points in the paint, and despite having a bigger and longer frontcourt, they could not limit his impact or dominate the boards. Even seven missed free throws did not slow USC down, and the Sun Devils’ defensive lapses were too glaring to overcome.

Pig Johnson is a formidable spark plug off the bench

Even in a rough game, Anthony Johnson’s performance stood out. Johnson has scored double digits in seven of ASU’s eight games this season, including six straight. He averaged 15 points in the Maui Invitational, including 15 in this game, helping ASU stay competitive.

Johnson contributes in multiple ways. He created turnovers with timely steals, sparked transition points, hustled back after turnovers, and even took a charge to regain possession. While free-throw shooting has been a weakness this season, he made nine of ten attempts tonight.

 He also turned in a relentless defense, creating pressure and forcing mistakes. Three careless turnovers were the only blemish, but his energy and impact outweighed them. Johnson is a player who can influence the game on both ends, and recently, he has been extremely effective.