University Southern California Trojans
USC Hopes To Bounce Back Against Morgan State Tuesday
November 21, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2011
USC (1-3) will host Morgan State (0-3) at the Galen Center on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. All four of USC's games this season have been decided by seven points or less. Fans bringing canned goods as a donation will receive two tickets to the game. Also, former Trojan great and current Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozen will be signing autographs from 6:30-7:00 p.m. in the Hall of Fame area at the Galen Center.
BREAKING DOWN THE BEARS -- The Bears went 17-14 a year ago and return 10 lettermen and four starters from that team. Morgan State returns three players which averaged double-figures in scoring last season in DeWayne Jackson (14.5), Kevin Thompson (13.1) and Aric Brooks (10.2). Morgan State is coached by former California head coach Todd Bozeman. This is the first meeting between the two schools. Morgan State has lost at Xavier (74-63), at home vs. Murray State (80-69) and at USC's next opponent UNLV (92-55).
TROJANS STUNNED BY CAL POLY -- Cal Poly held USC to six points over the final 15 minutes and used a 9-1 run in the final 1:45 to stun the Trojans 42-36 at the Galen Center on Nov. 19. The point total by USC was its lowest since also scoring 36 in a loss to Oregon State in 1982. The last time USC scored less points in a game was a 40-35 double-overtime loss to UCLA on Feb. 4, 1967. USC led 20-13 at the half as two of the country's best defensive team squared off to make the scoring difficult. Aaron Fuller led USC with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Cal Poly shot just 25.9 percent from the field, but outrebounded USC by 9. USC had 10 of its 12 turnovers in the second half. David Hanson led the Mustangs with 12 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:26 to go give Cal Poly the lead for good.
UNLV ON DECK -- USC will play UNLV (4-0) as part of the Continental Tires Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 25 at 4:30 p.m. in the Orleans Arena. The winner will play the winner of the North Carolina/South Carolina game on Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. and the losers of those games will play each other on Nov. 26 at 4:30 p.m. UNLV had defeated Grand Canyon (83-66), Nevada (71-67), Canisius (95-70) and Morgan State (92-55), all at home. UNLV has four players averaging double figures in scoring this season, led by UCLA transfer Mike Moser who has averaged 16.5 points and 14.3 rebounds through four games.
DYNAMIC DEFENSES -- USC has scored just 54.2 points per game, but they have played three of the top defenses in the country in the first four games. Last season Cal Poly (6th), SDSU (7th) and Nebraska (16th) all ranked among the top 16 NCAA teams in points allowed per game. All three of those teams also ranked in the top 25 in field goal defense.
DEFENSE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE - USC's defense is holding opponents to a conference low of 31.2 percent shooting and one one of the lowest shooting percentages in the country. USC is also far ahead of last season's team in several defensive categories after four games: PPG (55.2 in 2012/65.8 in 2011), FG% (.312/.443), 3PT percentage (.236/.410).
ALWAYS ENTERTAINING -- Forty-three of the 68 games played by USC in the last three seasons have been decided by 10 points or less (63.2 percent). Also, 18 of the 32 losses have been decided by 6 points or less (56.3 percent).
BOARD GAMES -- USC has been outrebounded in three of its four games this season and has lost all three games. USC was 4-11 in the games it was outrebounded last season.
