Overview

• USC defeated Kansas State 67-61 in the Sweet 16 to secure a spot in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
• Freshmen Kennedy Smith and Avery Howell combined for 37 points, with Smith scoring 19 and Howell adding 18, including key free throws in the final minutes.
• The Trojans' defense forced 16 turnovers and limited Kansas State to 5-of-16 shooting from three-point range, compensating for offensive struggles.
• Kiki Iriafen, USC's second-leading scorer, was held to just seven points on poor shooting, while Rayah Marshall contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.
• USC will face No. 2 seed UConn in the Elite Eight, a significant test against a powerhouse program coming off a dominant win over Oklahoma.