Rodney Rice's 27 Points Lead USC Past Boise State in Maui Invitational Thriller
With 14.8 seconds left and the game on the line, Rodney Rice didn’t just take a shot—he took control. Driving through two defenders at the top of the key, he finished a runner in the paint, drew the foul, and calmly sank the free throw to put USC Trojans up by three. The crowd in Lahaina erupted. Then came the silence as Boise State Broncos’ last hope, Javan Buchanan, launched a desperation three that clanged off the rim. Final score: 70-67. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t easy. But for USC, it was perfect.
A Night Defined by One Player
Rodney Rice, the 6-foot-3 guard from the DMV area outside Washington, D.C., didn’t just have a good game—he had a statement game. His 27 points weren’t just a season-high; they were the difference between advancing and going home. He hit four three-pointers, including one that tied the game at 65 with 1:12 left. But it was his poise under pressure that stood out. With the game tied and the clock ticking, he didn’t look for a pass. He looked for the basket. And he found it—through contact, through chaos, through sheer will.His teammates didn’t need to carry the load. Chad Baker-Mazara chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds, but the offense ran through Rice. USC shot an absurd 11 of 23 (48%) from beyond the arc, a stark contrast to Boise State’s 5 of 25 (20%). That disparity didn’t happen by accident. USC’s guards moved without the ball. They cut, screened, and spaced the floor like a well-oiled machine. Boise State? They stood still. They settled. And they paid for it.
Boise State’s Unforced Errors
Boise State didn’t lose because they were out-talented. They lost because they lost their heads. Fifteen turnovers. Fifteen. And nearly half of them came in the final eight minutes—when the game was tight, when every possession mattered. Coach Leon Rice didn’t sugarcoat it. “We had some weird turnovers that cost us,” he said after the game. “Turnovers at crucial times.”His team had chances. Javan Buchanan, their leading scorer with 18 points and six rebounds, kept them alive. Pearson Carmichael added 14 points off the bench. Aginaldo Neto gave them 10 more. For 35 minutes, they played tough. But when the game needed a playmaker, they didn’t have one. Andrew Meadow, wearing #13, was in the game at key moments but never got the ball in a position to make a difference. The Broncos led just once—in the final 2:57 of the game, at 59-58. After that? Nothing.
The Tournament’s Stakes
This wasn’t just a regular-season win. It was a statement on a national stage. The Southwest Maui InvitationalLahaina Civic Center is more than a tournament—it’s a proving ground. Top teams come here to test themselves against elite competition before conference play begins. USC entered 5-0. Now, they’re one win away from the championship game. They’ll face Seton Hall on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, in the semifinals.Boise State? They’re still alive—but in the losers’ bracket. Their next opponent? No. 23 North Carolina State Wolfpack (4-1), a team that’s already beaten two ranked opponents this season. Coach Rice told his team to feel sorry for themselves—then move on. “From the time we leave this gym to the time we get back to the hotel,” he said, “you can lick your wounds. But then? You turn the page. Instantly.”
Why This Matters Beyond the Box Score
USC’s win isn’t just about advancing. It’s about identity. After years of inconsistent performances and coaching changes, this team is starting to look like something real: a contender. Rice isn’t just scoring—he’s leading. Baker-Mazara is playing with confidence. Their defense, which held Boise State to 38% shooting, is tightening up. And their bench? It’s no longer an afterthought.Meanwhile, Boise State’s struggles are a cautionary tale. They’ve got talent—Buchanan is an All-Conference-caliber player, Carmichael is a sparkplug—but they lack a killer instinct. They didn’t just miss shots. They missed opportunities. They didn’t just turn the ball over—they turned momentum over. In a tournament like this, where every game is a snapshot of your season, those mistakes echo.
What’s Next?
USC’s path to the Maui Invitational title now runs through Seton Hall—a physical, defensive-minded team that’s won its last three games by an average of 12 points. If USC wants to win it all, they’ll need Rice to keep playing like this. And they’ll need to stop turning the ball over, something they did just eight times against Boise State—a marked improvement from their season average.Boise State’s road back to respectability runs through Raleigh. Facing No. 23 NC State on Tuesday won’t be easy. But if they can play with the same grit they showed in the first 30 minutes, they’re still in the hunt for a top-25 win—and a boost to their NCAA tournament resume.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Rodney Rice’s performance compare to his previous games this season?
Rodney Rice’s 27-point outing was his highest-scoring game of the season, surpassing his previous high of 21 points against Long Beach State on November 12. He also matched his career high for three-pointers made (four), and his 7-of-14 shooting from the field was his most efficient outing since the season opener. His 27 points accounted for nearly 39% of USC’s total offense, the highest individual contribution by any Trojan this year.
Why did Boise State struggle so much from three-point range?
Boise State’s 5-of-25 shooting from deep (20%) was their worst performance of the season. USC’s defense, led by Baker-Mazara and sophomore guard Malik Johnson, applied aggressive closeouts and forced the Broncos into contested, off-balance attempts. Many of their threes came from the wing or baseline with a defender in their face—unlike USC’s open looks, which came from movement and ball rotation. Coach Leon Rice admitted his team “got too predictable” in the half-court, relying too heavily on isolation plays.
What’s the significance of the Southwest Maui Invitational for teams like USC and Boise State?
The Southwest Maui Invitational is one of the most prestigious early-season tournaments in college basketball, featuring at least five top-25 teams this year. For mid-major programs like Boise State, beating a Power Five team like USC could be a resume-builder for NCAA tournament selection. For USC, it’s a chance to prove they belong among the nation’s elite after years of underachievement. A win over Seton Hall or NC State could vault them into the top 10 of the AP Poll.
How does this result impact USC’s NCAA tournament chances?
A win over Seton Hall in the semifinals would give USC a 6-0 record with three wins over teams that finished in the top 100 of the NET rankings last season. Combined with their non-conference schedule—which includes a potential matchup with a top-15 team later in December—this could land them in the top 15 of the polls by early December. That’s crucial: early wins in Maui often translate to higher seed lines in March.
Is there any historical context to USC’s success in the Maui Invitational?
USC last won the Maui Invitational in 2017, when they defeated Kentucky in the final. Since then, they’ve made three appearances but never advanced past the semifinals. This year’s team is the first USC squad since 2017 to enter the tournament undefeated. Their 5-0 start is their best since the 2013-14 season, when they reached the NCAA Tournament. This run could be the start of something bigger.
What role did the Lahaina Civic Center play in the game’s outcome?
The Lahaina Civic Center, a 5,000-seat arena, was packed with USC fans who traveled from the mainland—many wearing gold and cardinal. The noise level spiked during key possessions, particularly in the final minutes, and video replays showed Boise State players struggling to communicate on defense. While the court dimensions and lighting were standard, the atmosphere was anything but. The crowd’s energy clearly affected the Broncos’ late-game execution.