USC forward Ezra Ausar, left, shoots as Michigan center Aday Mara defends during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC guard Jordan Marsh, right, drives against Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan head coach Dusty May reacts during the first half of a Big Ten game against USC on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC guard Jordan Marsh shoots as Michigan guard Nimari Burnett defends during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg takes a shot as USC’s Ezra Ausar defends during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
USC head coach Eric Musselman, center, reacts after being given a technical foul during the first half of a Big Ten game against Michigan on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC forward Jaden Brownell, center, drives against Michigan guard Trey McKenney, left, and forward Yaxel Lendeborg during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC guard Jordan Marsh, right, shoots as Michigan guard L.J. Cason defends during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau takes a shot in front of USC’s fallen Jordan Marsh during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
USC guard Chad Baker-Mazara, center, drives against Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg, left, and center Aday Mara during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC guard Chad Baker-Mazara reacts during the first half of a Big Ten game against Michigan on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg takes a 3-point shot as USC’s Gabe Dynes defends during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
USC forward Ezra Ausar, center, is pressured by Michigan guards Trey McKenney, left, and Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC forward Ezra Ausar, left, reacts after dunking against Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC guard Kam Woods, right, drives against Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg drives past USC’s Ryan Cornish, right, on his way to the basket during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
USC forward Terrance Williams II, right, shoots as Michigan guard Trey McKenney defends during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC guard Chad Baker-Mazara reacts after drawing an and-one foul during the first half of a Big Ten game against Michigan on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC forward Ezra Ausar, right, shoots against Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC guard Jerry Easter II drives as Michigan guard Trey McKenney defends during the first half on Friday night in Ann Arbor, Mich. USC lost, 96-66. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
New Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham addresses the crowd during the first half of a Big Ten game between Michigan and USC on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
New Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham greets the crowd during the first half of a Big Ten game between Michigan and USC on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC’s Jordan Marsh (7) drives to the basket as Michigan’s Will Tschetter (42) defends during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr., right, shoots against USC guard Chad Baker-Mazara during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC’s Ezra Ausar takes a shot as Michigan’s Trey McKenney (1) defends during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Michigan center Aday Mara reacts while shooting during the second half of a Big Ten game against USC on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan guard Trey McKenney, right, drives as USC guard Chad Baker-Mazara defends during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr., left, has the ball knocked away by USC forward Jaden Brownell during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan guard L.J. Cason, right, shoots as USC forward Jaden Brownell defends during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara tries to drive around Michigan’s Will Tschetter during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Michigan head coach Dusty May, left, speaks with center Aday Mara during the second half of a Big Ten game against USC on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan guard Trey McKenney, right, drives as USC forward Ezra Ausar defends during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC’s Terrance Williams II tries to drive around Michigan’s Roddy Gayle Jr. during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Michigan guard L.J. Cason, left, shoots as USC guard Jordan Marsh defends during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC’s Ezra Ausar takes a shot in front of Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. (21) during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Michigan guards Nimari Burnett (4) and Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) vie for the ball against USC forward Ezra Ausar (2) during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan guard Nimari Burnett, center front, collides with guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against USC center Gabe Dynes defends during the second half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr., front right, greets guard Nimari Burnett, left, and forward Yaxel Lendeborg, back right, on the bench during the second half of a Big Ten game against USC on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan guard Nimari Burnett, center, sits with guard Elliot Cadeau, left, and forward Morez Johnson Jr., right, after an injury during the second half of a Big Ten game against USC on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
USC head coach Eric Musselman walks off the court after his team’s 96-66 loss to No. 2 Michigan in a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) is interviewed with forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) and guard Trey McKenney (1) after their 96-66 victory over USC in a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
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USC forward Ezra Ausar, left, shoots as Michigan center Aday Mara defends during the first half of a Big Ten game on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The USC men’s basketball team got a rude welcome to 2026.
Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and second-ranked Michigan hammered No. 24 USC, 96-66, on Friday night as Big Ten play resumed.
Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0 overall, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.
Jaden Brownell had 16 points and six rebounds off the bench and Erza Ausar added 15 points and six boards for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
USC shot 34.5% from the field and turned the ball over 21 times. Michigan outscored USC 46-24 in the paint, 26-2 on fast-break points and 24-7 in points off turnovers.
The Wolverines bolted to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC, held scoreless for the first 6:41, pulled within five points twice in the first half but Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.
USC’s first-half struggles were compounded seconds before intermission when, after he committed a turnover on the offensive end, Baker-Mazara fouled Nimari Burnett on the ensuing Michigan fast break to garner his fourth personal.
USC got no closer the rest of the way.
Michigan’s defensive dominance included three blocked shots from Yaxel Lendeborg, three steals from Aday Mara, and two steals each from Elliot Cadeau and Johnson.
Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the court and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.
Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.
UP NEXT
USC plays at No. 9 Michigan State on Monday at 5:30 p.m. PT.
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