The streak of the First Four competitors is alive as USC came back against SMU in a similar fashion to that of their victory over Providence on Wednesday.
Claiming the biggest upset of the First Round, USC only had a 22.67 percent chance to beat SMU before the game and were not helping that percentage throughout most of the game. With 7:30 to go in the first, SMU held a 30-18 lead and USC only had a 5.88 percent chance to win, but the Trojans slowly chipped away before the deficit was back up to eight to end the first half.
SMU lead by as much as nine in the second half before hitting a wall offensively and letting USC back into the game. USC tied it up at 54, and the teams spent the next several minutes trading small leads.
With 36 seconds left, the Trojans took the lead for good with a three from Elijah Stewart. SMU's Malik Milton had a chance to be the hero, but his runner fell short and went off the rim.