USC To Face UNLV Friday In Las Vegas Invitational
November 23, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 23, 2011
USC (2-3) will face UNLV (5-0) at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. as part of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 25 at 4:30 p.m. All five of USC's games this season have been decided by seven points or less.
BREAKING DOWN THE REBELS -- UNLV has defeated Grand Canyon (83-66), Nevada (71-67), Canisius (95-70), Morgan State (92-55) and Cal Poly (75-52), all at home. UNLV has five players averaging double figures in scoring this season, led by UCLA transfers Mike Moser (16.0 ppg/13.0 rpg) and Chace Stanback (13.3 ppg/5.8 rpg). USC leads the all-time series with UNLV, 5-3, winning the last meeting 67-56 in the Diamond Head Classic finals on Dec. 25, 2009.
USC RALLIES TO DEFEAT MORGAN STATE -- USC rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to defeat Morgan State 65-62 and snap a three-game losing streak. With USC trailing 31-15, Greg Allen hit a three-pointer for his first points as a Trojan and it spurred USC on a 13-5 run to cut the halftime deficit to 36-28. Allen continued his hot shooting with two more three-pointers during USC's 23-6 run out of halftime to open up a 9-point lead. USC held on for the victory as Allen finished with 14 points. Aaron Fuller led USC with 19 and Maurice Jones added 18.
UNC/SOUTH CAROLINA ON DECK -- The winner of the USC-UNLV game will face the winner of the UNC-South Carolina game on Nov. 26, with the other two teams also squaring off that day. A game vs. UNC would be at 7:30 p.m. at the Orleans Arena and be broadcast on ESPN2. A game vs. South Carolina would be at 4:30 p.m. at the Orelans Arena. North Carolina is 4-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country. UNC has five players averaging at least 9.0 points, led by Harrison Barnes (17.0) and John Henson (16.5). USC is 1-8 all-time vs. UNC. South Carolina is 2-2 with wins over Western Carolina (75-50) and Mississippi Valley St. (61-57) and losses to Elon (58-53) and Tennessee St. (64-63). The Gamecocks are led in scoring by Malik Cooke (11.8) and Eric Smith (10.3). USC trails in the all-time series with South Carolina, 1-2.
DEFENSE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE - USC's defense is holding opponents to a conference low of 34.5 percent shooting and one of the lowest shooting percentages in the country. USC is also far ahead of last season's team in several defensive categories after five games: PPG (56.6 in 2012/64.8 in 2011), FG% (.345/.425), 3PT percentage (.263/.392).
ALWAYS ENTERTAINING -- Forty-four of the 69 games played by USC in the last three seasons have been decided by 10 points or less (63.8 percent). Also, 18 of the 32 losses have been decided by 6 points or less (56.3 percent). USC has played five consecutive games decided by 7 points or less for the first time since the 2010 season and just the third time in the past 21 seasons. The last time USC played more consecutive games in one season decided by 7 points or less was the first 6 games of the 1990 season.
BOARD GAMES -- USC has been outrebounded in its last four games and is 1-3 in those contests. USC has allowed more than 10 offensive rebounds in each game with an average of 13.2 per game. USC was 4-11 in the games it was outrebounded last season.
HITTING THE ROAD -- USC will not play at home again until Dec. 10 vs. New Mexico. USC will play UNLV and either UNC or South Carolina in Las Vegas, then will play at UC Riverside on Nov. 30 and at Minnesota on Dec. 3.
