USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara leaves program
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Chad Baker-Mazara, one of the leading scorers on the USC Trojans men’s basketball team, abruptly left the program on Sunday, the school announced.
Baker-Mazara was the team’s second-leading scorer and started 22 of the Trojans’ 26 games. He scored 14 points in an 82-67 loss to 12th-ranked Nebraska on Saturday. He played only three of his 19 minutes in the second half after taking a hard fall at the baseline.
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Southern California forward Chad Baker-Mazara (4) leaves the court after the NCAA college basketball game against Nebraska on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
USC did not give a reason for his departure.
“We don’t have anything additional to add at this time,” team spokeswoman Kristen Keller told The Associated Press.
Trojans head coach Eric Musselman was asked about Baker-Mazara’s health after the player left the game.
Nebraska guard Jamarques Lawrence (10) passes the ball past Southern California forward Chad Baker-Mazara during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
“He said he couldn’t go,” Musselman told reporters, adding that he had not spoken to a coach about Baker-Mazara’s situation.
Baker-Mazara, 26, was a graduate student from the Dominican Republic. He was the MVP of the Maui Invitational when the team played in Hawaii earlier in the season.
USC was Baker-Mazara’s fifth school. He began his college career at Duquesne, then transferred to Northwest Florida State College and Auburn before arriving at San Diego State and later USC. He was the Mountain West Conference Sixth Man of the Year when he played for the Aztecs and All-SEC when he played with the Tigers.
He averaged 18.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 26 games at USC this season.
Nebraska forward Braden Frager (5) and Southern California forward Chad Baker-Mazara (left) react after hard contact during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
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USC is 18-11 this season with two more games left on the schedule before the Big Ten Tournament begins March 10.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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