Sunday, January 5
Seattle, Wash.
7:00 PM
USC
at
Washington
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: John McGillen/USC Athletics
USC To Play At Washington Sunday Night
January 04, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Features
The USC Trojans (12-2, 1-0) will play at the Washington Huskies (10-4, 0-1) at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle, Wash. on Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. The game will air on FS1 with Aaron Goldsmith and Steve Lavin calling the action. USC has won its last six games and has had two winning streaks of five or more games this season, the third time this decade with two such streaks in a season (2016 & 2017). USC is seeking a 2-0 start in Pac-12 road action for the first time since the 2007 season when it won at Oregon and Oregon State after splitting a pair of games at home. The last time USC started conference play on the road and won both games was the 2002 season when it won at Washington (87-65) and Washington State (78-63). USC has won 12 of its first 14 games for only the third time in the last 18 seasons (14-0 in 2017 and 12-2 in 2016 with both teams losing its 15th game).
BREAKING DOWN WASHINGTON -- The Washington Huskies (10-4, 0-1) are coming off a 66-64 home loss to UCLA on Jan. 2. Freshman forward Isaiah Stewart (19.6) leads four Huskies averaging double-figures in scoring. Washington defeated USC 75-62 at home last season and 78-75 in the second round of the Pac-12 Championships. Washington has won its last three games against USC and leads the all-time series 74-72 (2 USC wins vacated due to NCAA penalty, original record 74-74).
USC OPENS PAC-12 PLAY WITH WIN AT WSU -- Onyeka Okongwu scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead USC to a 65-56 win in its Pac-12 Conference opener at Washington State on Jan. 2. The win was USC's 6th straight and snapped WSU's 6-game winning streak. Despite Okongwu's 6th double-double of the season and USC leading for nearly the entire game, it wasn't easy as the Trojans had to overcome their 20 turnovers and 20 offensive rebounds by WSU. USC's defense was the key, holding WSU to 27.8 percent shooting, including 21.4 percent from 3-point range. USC made 51.1 percent of its shots, going over 50 percent for the second time this season. USC made a season-low one three-pointer (1-for-7). USC used its height advantage for a 40-28 lead on points in the paint and a 46-39 lead in rebounds.
OKONGWU NEAR THE TOP OF THE CLASS -- Through his first 13 career games, Okongwu is averaging 18.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.15 blocks per game, while shooting 64.6 percent from the field. His 41 total blocks already rank tied for fourth on USC's all-time freshman blocks list. Among all freshmen nationally through Jan. 2, he ranks second in total points (239), tied for second in total blocks (41) and blocks per game (3.15), third in field goal percentage (64.6 percent), in total field goals made (95), in rebounds per game (9.2) and in points per game (18.4), tied for third in double-doubles (6), fourth in total rebounds (120, )tied for fourth in offensive rebounds per game (3.23) and 10th in free throws made (49).
UCLA ON DECK -- The UCLA Bruins (8-6, 1-0) will play at Washington State on Jan. 4 before hosting USC on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Junior Chris Smith leads UCLA in scoring with an 11.5 average, but seven Bruins are scoring at least 6.5 points per game. USC and UCLA split their games last season with USC winning 80-67 at home and falling 93-88 in overtime at UCLA. UCLA leads the all-time series 143-109* (1 USC win vacated due to NCAA penalty, original record 143-110).
A ROAD LESS TRAVELED -- USC is 3-0 on the road this season, after going 2-9 on the road during the 2018-19 season. In six of the last 11 seasons, USC won 2 or less road games for an overall record of 34-90 (27.4 percent). USC finished over .500 on the road (6-5) during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the only two seasons in the past 11 with a winning road record.
10 FOR 10 -- All 10 available basketball scholarship players on USC's team have had at least one 10-point scoring game this season. All 10 players played and scored at WSU on Jan. 2.
TROJANS FINDING THEIR MARK --- USC has made 48.1 percent of its shots in the last six games (165-for-343). In its first eight games, USC made 43.3 percent of its shots (210-for-485). USC is also heating up from three-point range making 37.7 percent (43-for-114) of its shot in the last six games, after shooting 32.2 percent (48-for-149) from beyond the arc in the first eight games.
TURNING UP THE DEFENSE -- USC's defense has held its last three opponents to a combined 34.4 shooting percentage (71-for-206). For the year, USC is holding the opposition to 38.3 percent shooting which ranks 26th in the country. Also in the last three games combined, USC's opponents are shooting 24.3 percent (18-for-74) from three point range. USC's opponents shot a higher percentage than that in each of the previous 10 games and prior to the last three games, had made 35.6 percent of its shots from beyond the arc this season.
BREAKING DOWN WASHINGTON -- The Washington Huskies (10-4, 0-1) are coming off a 66-64 home loss to UCLA on Jan. 2. Freshman forward Isaiah Stewart (19.6) leads four Huskies averaging double-figures in scoring. Washington defeated USC 75-62 at home last season and 78-75 in the second round of the Pac-12 Championships. Washington has won its last three games against USC and leads the all-time series 74-72 (2 USC wins vacated due to NCAA penalty, original record 74-74).
USC OPENS PAC-12 PLAY WITH WIN AT WSU -- Onyeka Okongwu scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead USC to a 65-56 win in its Pac-12 Conference opener at Washington State on Jan. 2. The win was USC's 6th straight and snapped WSU's 6-game winning streak. Despite Okongwu's 6th double-double of the season and USC leading for nearly the entire game, it wasn't easy as the Trojans had to overcome their 20 turnovers and 20 offensive rebounds by WSU. USC's defense was the key, holding WSU to 27.8 percent shooting, including 21.4 percent from 3-point range. USC made 51.1 percent of its shots, going over 50 percent for the second time this season. USC made a season-low one three-pointer (1-for-7). USC used its height advantage for a 40-28 lead on points in the paint and a 46-39 lead in rebounds.
OKONGWU NEAR THE TOP OF THE CLASS -- Through his first 13 career games, Okongwu is averaging 18.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.15 blocks per game, while shooting 64.6 percent from the field. His 41 total blocks already rank tied for fourth on USC's all-time freshman blocks list. Among all freshmen nationally through Jan. 2, he ranks second in total points (239), tied for second in total blocks (41) and blocks per game (3.15), third in field goal percentage (64.6 percent), in total field goals made (95), in rebounds per game (9.2) and in points per game (18.4), tied for third in double-doubles (6), fourth in total rebounds (120, )tied for fourth in offensive rebounds per game (3.23) and 10th in free throws made (49).
UCLA ON DECK -- The UCLA Bruins (8-6, 1-0) will play at Washington State on Jan. 4 before hosting USC on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Junior Chris Smith leads UCLA in scoring with an 11.5 average, but seven Bruins are scoring at least 6.5 points per game. USC and UCLA split their games last season with USC winning 80-67 at home and falling 93-88 in overtime at UCLA. UCLA leads the all-time series 143-109* (1 USC win vacated due to NCAA penalty, original record 143-110).
A ROAD LESS TRAVELED -- USC is 3-0 on the road this season, after going 2-9 on the road during the 2018-19 season. In six of the last 11 seasons, USC won 2 or less road games for an overall record of 34-90 (27.4 percent). USC finished over .500 on the road (6-5) during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the only two seasons in the past 11 with a winning road record.
10 FOR 10 -- All 10 available basketball scholarship players on USC's team have had at least one 10-point scoring game this season. All 10 players played and scored at WSU on Jan. 2.
TROJANS FINDING THEIR MARK --- USC has made 48.1 percent of its shots in the last six games (165-for-343). In its first eight games, USC made 43.3 percent of its shots (210-for-485). USC is also heating up from three-point range making 37.7 percent (43-for-114) of its shot in the last six games, after shooting 32.2 percent (48-for-149) from beyond the arc in the first eight games.
TURNING UP THE DEFENSE -- USC's defense has held its last three opponents to a combined 34.4 shooting percentage (71-for-206). For the year, USC is holding the opposition to 38.3 percent shooting which ranks 26th in the country. Also in the last three games combined, USC's opponents are shooting 24.3 percent (18-for-74) from three point range. USC's opponents shot a higher percentage than that in each of the previous 10 games and prior to the last three games, had made 35.6 percent of its shots from beyond the arc this season.
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