PALM DESERT, Calif. — The Gonzaga men's basketball team lost its first game of the season, a charity exhibition against USC, 96-93.
The Trojans shot a blistering 55 percent from the field and outrebounded the Zags 34-32 in the victory.
It was a back and forth game throughout with 10 ties and eight lead changes. USC led by as many as 11.
Gonzaga led by two at the half thanks to 12 first half points from Khalif Battle, who got the start at shooting guard over Nolan Hickman.
The game was tied at 47 with 15 minutes to play, but the Trojans would embark on a 10-0 run capped off by a personal 5-0 run from Chibuzo Agbo.
Gonzaga would cut the lead down to four with under 10 minutes to play on a Hickman steal and layup.
However, USC would respond and push the lead back to nine with a layup by Matt Knowling with 4:39 to go.
Then, Gonzaga would answer with a personal 5-0 run by Ryan Nembhard and a clutch corner three from Battle to cut the lead to just one.
Newcomer Michael Ajayi would knock down a corner three with 1:40 to play to tie the game at 89.
From there, Desmond Claude and Terrance Williams II would score all of the points for USC and Battle missed an open three pointer with 53 seconds left, which would have given the Zags a lead. Claude's ensuing layup put USC up four with 25 seconds to go.
Nembhard missed a game tying three pointer at the buzzer.
Battle had 20 points to lead the Zags. Nembhard had 19 as six Zags scored in double figures.
Five Trojans scored in double figures led by Williams with 20 and Claude with 19.
Gonzaga will have one more exhibition game against Warner Pacific on Wedesday night before opening the regular season against No. 8 Baylor the following Monday.
