Men's Basketball | January 12, 2018

The USC Trojans (12-6, 3-2) are hosting the Utah Runnin' Utes (10-6, 2-3) at the Galen Center on Jan. 14 at 5:00 p.m.  

BREAKING DOWN THE UTES  --  Utah (10-6, 2-3) is coming off a 83-64 loss at UCLA on Jan. 11 and has lost three consecutive Pac-12 games, following opening conference play with a sweep at the Oregon schools.  Utah has five players averging in double figures in points, led by senior David Collette at 13.9 points per game.  Utah defeated USC 86-64 at home in the only meeting between the schools last season. Utah leads the all-time series 22-17, including winning the last eight contests.  USC last defeated the Utes  on Jan. 12, 2013 (76-59) in Utah.  The Utes have won by an average of 15.3 points during the eight-game winning streak against USC.

USC TURNS UP THE "D" TO BEAT COLORADO -- Despite its worst shooting game since Dec. 2, USC road its defense to a 70-58 win over Colorado on Jan. 10.  The Trojans held Colorado to 26.9 percent shooting in the second half and 36.4 for the game to improve to 7-0 this season when holding the opposition under 40 percent shooting.  Jordan McLaughlin led USC with 20 points, going 4-for-4 from three-point range.  USC's top two scorers for the season, Chimezie Metu and Bennie Boatwright, were a combined 4-for-22 in the game, as USC shot 43.6 percent.  Metu still had a big impact on the result, as he made eight free throws and had a career-high six blocked shots, to finish with a double-double of 14 points and a season-best 13 rebounds.  USC had a season-high 12 steals and forced 22 turnovers, which led to a 25-7 advantage on points scored off turnovers. Guards Derryck Thornton and Jonah Mathews provided strong minutes off the bench, Thornton scoring 8 points and making 4 steals and Mathews scoring 9 points on three 3-pointers.  Despite being outrebounded 39-31, USC outscored Colorado 28-14 on points in the paint.

OREGON ON DECK - USC's next game be at Oregon (12-5, 2-2) on Jan. 18 at 6 p.m.  Oregon is coming off a 76-72 win at No. 11 Arizona State on Jan. 11 and will play at No. 17 Arizona on Jan. 13 before hosting USC.  Oregon has won 7 of its last 9 games and is led in scoring by sophomore guard Payton Pritchard at 15.2 points per game. Oregon returned one starter and three lettermen from last season's Final Four team.  USC has lost 14 consecutive games to Oregon, but leads the all-time series 60-56, which reflects two wins vacated from the 2008 season due to NCAA penalty. USC has lost seven straight games at Oregon, last winning in Eugene, Ore. on Jan. 2, 2009.

DEFENSIVE CHARGE -- Since allowing Washington to shoot 67.3 percent in a loss on Dec. 29, the highest shooting percentage by a Trojan opponent since 2003, USC has combined to hold its last four opponents to a 41.5 shooting percentage (97-for-234).  In the four games, USC has registered 40 steals and forced 72 turnovers.  USC is 7-0 this season when holding the opposition to under 40 percent shooting and 5-6 when they shoot better than 40 percent. USC is also 7-1 when forcing the opposition into 15 or more turnovers.

PUT ME IN COACH -- As the Trojans have gotten healthier following early-season injuries, the bench has started to show the team's depth.  Since Derryck Thornton returned to the lineup on Dec. 31 vs. Washington State, meaning the team was basically at full strength, USC's bench has outscored the opponent's bench 110-75.  USC has averaged 27.5 points off the bench the past four games, after averging 13.0 bench points in the first 14 games.  USC still trails its opponents on bench points for the season at 282-310.

LAUNCHING THE LONG BALL -- USC is shooting 38.5 from three-point this season which ranks tops among Pac-12 teams and is fourth in the conference with a total of 152 three-pointers made this season.  USC has had eight games this season when it has shot over 40 percent from three-point range and has had 11 games with at least eight three-pointers made.

DYNAMIC FRONTCOURT TANDEMS --  USC forwards Chimezie Metu (17.1 ppg) and Bennie Boatwright (15.6 ppg) rank fourth among Power 5 frontcourt duos in scoring at 32.7 points per game through Jan. 12.  Duke's front court of Marvin Bagley III (22.1) and Wendell Carter Jr. (13.3) have teamed up to score the most at 35.4 points per game.  Ohio State (33.2) and Georgetown (32.8) round out the top three tandems.