USC To Host Oregon Thursday

The USC Trojans (17-9, 8-5) will host the Oregon Ducks (17-8, 7-5) at the Galen Center on Feb. 15 at 6:00 p.m. USC has lost three straight games, after having a six-game winning streak, its longest in conference play since the 1992 season. USC last lost four consecutive games from Feb. 11-26, 2017. USC is tied for second in the conference, two games behind Arizona, with eight teams within one game of each other for positions 2-9 in the tight conference race.

BREAKING DOWN OREGON -- Oregon is coming off an 84-57 home win over Washington St. on Feb. 11 and has won five of six games. USC snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Ducks when it won 75-70 in Eugene, Ore. on Jan. 18. USC has lost seven consecutive home games to Oregon. USC leads the all-time series with Oregon 61-56, which reflects two wins vacated by USC due to NCAA penalty. Oregon is led in scoring by Payton Pritchard (14.4 ppg), Elijah Brown (12.8 ppg) and Troy Brown (12.3 ppg), with 7 Ducks averaging at least 7.2 points per game.

USC FALLS AT No. 13 ARIZONA -- No. 13 Arizona shot a scorching 56.1 percent from the field and defeated USC 81-67 in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 10. A win would have tied the Trojans with the Wildcats atop the Pac-12 standings, but the loss meant USC had fallen nine consecutive times in Tucson. USC had its only lead of 20-18 at 9:08 of the first half, but Arizona took a timeout and responded with a quick 9-0 run and it went to the break with a 37-31 lead over the Trojans. USC tied it at 41-all at the 16:19 mark of the second half and remained within four points the first nine minutes of the half, but Arizona pulled away. Chimezie Metu led USC with 18 points and Jordan McLaughlin added 16, all in the second half. Nick Rakocevic had nine rebounds and scored 12 points on 6 of 8 shooting before fouling out. USC was outrebounded 40-22 in the game. The 22 rebounds were a season low and the 18-rebound differential was a season high. The Trojans made 44.4 percent of their shots, 31.6 percent from 3-point range. Derryck Thornton made his first start as a Trojan and had seven points and three assists.

OREGON STATE ON DECK - USC's next game will be vs. Oregon State (13-11, 5-7) at the Galen Center on Feb. 17 at 8:00 p.m. USC won at Oregon State 74-67 on Jan. 20 and is 71-63 all-time against the Beavers, which reflects two wins vacated by USC due to NCAA penalty. Oregon State will play at UCLA on Feb. 15 before facing USC. Oregon State has won its last two games, following a four-game losing streak. They are led in scoring by Tres Tinkle (18.5 ppg) and Stephen Thompson Jr. (16.5 ppg).

McLAUGHLIN A COUSY AWARD FINALIST -- Jordan McLaughlin is one of 10 players remaining on the watch list for the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard. The award is named after the Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy and recognizes the top point guards in Division I men's college basketball. McLaughlin, a three-year team captain, is averaging 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists this season. McLaughlin leads all Pac-12 players this season in assists with 194, which is tied for third nationally. Last season he was the only player in the country with at least three assists in every game and he has accomplished that in all 26 games this season as well, running his nation's longest streak to 63 consecutive games with at least three assists (dating back to the 2015-16 season).

WHAT'S CHANGED -- During USC's three-game losing streak, it is shooting 45.3 percent and its opponents are shooting 49.4 percent from the floor. USC has also made 31.1 percent of its three-pointers, while the opposition has made 39.1 percent. USC has averaged 5.0 steals in the three games. Is the six-game winning streak prior to the three losses, USC shot 44.4 percent and its opponents 42.3 percent. USC made 42.3 percent of its threes and the opponent 33.1 percent from beyond the arc. USC also averaged 7.6 steals per game in the winning streak.

THORNTON TOES THE LINE -- Derryck Thornton has made all 17 of his free throws this season. His streak was kept alive at Arizona on a lane violation on the front end of a 1-and-1.

PROTECTING THE ROCK -- USC ranks 13th in the country with a 1.49 assist to turnover ratio through games of Feb. 12. USC also ranks 23rd in fewest turnovers per game at 11.0 per game. USC leads all Pac-12 teams in both categories.

JONAH FROM THE ARC -- Jonah Mathews has made 48.8 percent (21-for-43) of his shots from beyond the arc over the past nine games. For the year, Mathews has made 42.4 percent of his three-pointers (39-for-92) which ranks T-8th among conference players. Mathews has come off the bench the last nine games and has averaged 10.0 points per game (90 total points), while making 2.1 three-pointers per game in that stretch.

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Players Mentioned

Jonah Mathews

Jordan McLaughlin

Chimezie Metu

Nick Rakocevic

Derryck Thornton