USC Hosts Omaha At Galen Sunday
November 12, 2016 | Men's Basketball
TODAY'S GAME -- The USC Trojans (1-0) will host the Omaha Mavericks (1-0) at the Galen Center on Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Jim Watson and Steve Lavin calling the action.
OMAHA IN FOR A SUNDAY MATINEE -- Omaha (1-0) is coming off a 74-60 win at UC Santa Barbara yesterday. Mitch Hahn led the Mavericks with 15 points. Omaha was 18-14 last season and earned a trip to the CBI tournament. Omaha returns four starters to its 2016-17 team, including guard Tra-Deon Hollins (12.5 ppg in 2016) and forward Tre'Shawn Thurman (13.9 ppg in 2016). This is the first-ever meeting between USC and Omaha in men's basketball.
TROJANS DEFEAT MONTANA IN OPENER -- Elijah Stewart scored a career-high 30 points and Shaqquan Aaron added a career-best 17 points to lead USC to a 75-61 win in its opener vs. Montana on Nov. 11. With the win, USC improved to 18-4 in its last 22 home openers, including winning seven of its last eight. USC trailed by as many as 11 points early in the first half, but went on a 17-4 run to take the lead for good at 20-18 and never looked back. USC outrebounded Montana 39-32 and forced 16 turnovers which led to 21 points.
TRIP TO TEXAS A&M NEXT -- USC's next game will be at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas on Nov. 18 at 4 p.m. (PT). The game will air on the SEC Network. Texas A&M (1-0) defeated Northwestern State 72-44 on Nov. 11 and will host American on Nov. 14 before USC arrives. Texas A&M dominated the paint in the first game, outscoring NW State 42-8, led by sophomore Tyler Davis who scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds. The Aggies were 28-9 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season. The teams have met just one other time with USC winning 26-18 on December 18, 1936.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN -- There are a total of 14 players on the 2016-17 USC men's basketball roster. The Trojan team by class are: Seniors (2): Charles Buggs (F), Samer Dhillon (F); Juniors (3): Kurt Karis (G), Jordan McLaughlin (G), Elijah Stewart (G); Sophomores (5): Shaqquan Aaron (G), Bennie Boatwright (F), Devin Fleming (G), Chimezie Metu (F), Derryck Thornton (G) ; Freshmen (4): Harrison Henderson (F), Jonah Mathews (G), De'Anthony Melton (G), Nick Rakocevic (F). Thornton is a transfer from Duke and will sit out the 2016-17 season.
USC's ROSTER FEATURES YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCE --
SNEAKER DRIVE FOR HOMELESS -- In an effort to help the homeless in Southern California, fans attending the game vs. Omaha on Nov. 13, the football game vs. Notre Dame on Nov. 26, the women's volleyball match vs. Oregon on Nov. 19 and the women's hoops game vs. LBSU on Nov. 27 are encouraged to bring a pair of new sneakers to the game to donate to a Sneaker Drive, an initiative sponsored by USC Football and Clay and Angela Helton in partnership with the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Fans who donate a pair of sneakers to any of those events will receive two tickets to that game. In December, there will be a similar Toy Drive for homeless children.
PRESEASON PROPS -- Jordan McLaughlin has been named to the 20-player watch list for the Bob Cousy Award recognizing the nation's top point guard. Bennie Boatwright has been named to the 20-player watch list for the Karl Malone Award for the nation's top power forward. In addition, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports listed USC's Chimezie Metu as one of the top 20 players set to have a breakout season: "An athletic freak, Metu will step into a starting role for USC following Nikola Jovanovic's unexpected departure. A capable defensive player, this 6-11 prospect will be one of the most talked big men in the country as long as he develops his offense."
JUMPING RIGHT IN -- USC opened the season on Nov. 11 and beginning with that game will play seven games in 20 days. Included in that stretch is two road trips, Nov. 18 at Texas A&M and Nov. 30 at San Diego.
