At the sound of the final buzzer of Wednesday’s game, USC’s players embraced as they walked off the court, breathing a sigh of relief with a weight lifted off their shoulders — one step closer to sneaking into postseason play.

What was once a team on the NCAA Tournament bubble, the Trojans have fallen hard of late, with a five-game losing streak putting them in jeopardy of missing the Big Ten Tournament altogether.

But at least for one more night, USC (15-16 overall, 7-12 Big Ten) kept its postseason hopes alive in an ongoing effort for the final tournament spot by drubbing last-place Washington, 92-61.

With the Trojans already rolling with 8:40 left in the game, graduate transfer Chibuzo Agbo — in his final game at Galen Center — caught the ball at the top of the arc, squared up and drilled a 3-pointer. It was the dagger to any chance the Huskies had at a comeback, extending the lead to 20 points.

Agbo led all scorers with a season-high 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting.

Despite being at the bottom of the Big Ten standings, the Huskies didn’t make it easy for the Trojans. They played as if they were fighting for a tournament spot, seemingly trying to play the role of late-season spoiler.

From the start, the Trojans faced tough, physical play, getting knocked down often. But they fought for second-chance points, battled for rebounds and drove to the basket, drawing hard fouls and converting and-1 plays.

The Trojans showed they wanted the victory more because they needed it more.

Rashaun Agee physically went toe-to-toe with the Huskies, establishing himself as a dominant presence in the post on both ends of the court. Early on, he attacked Washington’s defenders with aggressive drives, initiating contact and finishing strong, flexing his 6-foot-8 frame.

He was relentless on the boards, soaring for rebounds and ripping the ball away from defenders. His intensity hit another level when he let out a roar after securing a tough board, then stepped back in transition to drain a three from the top of the key.

On the next possession, he found himself in the same spot and buried another triple, pointing to the crowd in celebration. His energetic performance led all Trojans, and he scored 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbed five rebounds.

By halftime, USC held a 12-point lead and all the momentum on its side.