In a season in which USC has spent most of its time on an NCAA Tournament tight rope, the win that essentially clinched the Trojans’ spot was fittingly a high octane rollercoaster ride.

USC came back from a nine-point first-half deficit, surrendered a 12-point lead late in the second half and hung on for a 93-89 overtime victory against California in front of 9,102 fans at the Galen Center.