USC Men's Basketball Will Make A Quick Trip To Lincoln To Face Cornhuskers

LINCOLN, Neb. – The USC Men's Basketball team (11-7, 3-4 Big Ten) is heading back to the Midwest for the second time this season as they take on the University of Nebraska. The last time these two teams faced each other was Dec. 3, 2012, in Lincoln when the Trojans lost by 12.

LAST TIME OUT
USC played one more game in Galen Center before this quick road trip as they took on the No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers. This nationally ranked team lived up to their ranking as they took an early, commanding lead over the Trojans. USC didn't back down from the challenge. Being down by 15 at the half, the Trojans came out strong in the second half to go on a 13-0 run, getting within three of the Badgers. Even with that push, they couldn't find a way to take over this game as USC fell 84-69 to the Cornhuskers.

Saint Thomas had his second straight game where he finished with double-digit points as he secured a team-high 19 while also leading the team in assists with three. Two other Trojans ended with double-digit points, and they were Rashaun Agee and Wesley Yates III. Agee continued with his hot streak as he tallied 15 points and two steals. Yates also had a great outing as he wrapped up his sixth straight game with double-digit points, racking up 11.

SCOUTING THE CORNHUSKERS
- The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 12-6 to start off the 2024-25 season. However, Nebraska is 2-5 in Big Ten conference play - including four straight losses to Iowa, Purdue, Rutgers and Maryland. Despite that, the Cornhuskers are 8-1 at home this season.

- The Cornhuskers have one of the stronger benches in the Big Ten. Nebraska is fourth in the conference when it comes to points scored by their players coming off the bench, which is an average of 26.4 per game.

- Senior guard Brice Williams is leading the Cornhuskers in scoring this season as he is averaging 18.6 points, which is the fifth-best figure in the Big Ten. Williams ranks 12th in the entire country and third in the Big Ten in free throw efficiency, making 91.7 percent of his shots from the charity stripe, and ranks seventh in the nation in free throws attempted. Williams also ranks ninth in the Big Ten Conference in field goals made, racking up 108 so far this season.

- Junior guard Connor Essegian is second in the Big Ten in three-pointers made this season as he is averaging 2.6 per game. He is also second in three-point field goal percentage as he is shooting at a 41.1 percent clip from beyond the arc.

- Only three players have started all 18 games for the Cornhuskers this season: Williams, senior forward Juwan Gary and senior guard Rollie Worster. Gary is one of the best shooters on the team as he is second on the team in points as he averages 11.7 a game. Worster is an all-around threat for Nebraska as he leads the team in assists with 47, while also averaging 8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

- Leading the team's defensive efforts is Berke Buyuktuncel. The sophomore forward is the only Cornhusker with triple-digit rebounds as he has grabbed 101 so far this season.

ONE-TWO PUNCH
Desmond Claude and Chibuzo Agbo are one of the best duos on the court for USC. In the 827 possessions they shared, they rank in the top 90 percent in the NCAA when it comes to plus-minus as they sit at 134. Along with that, they boast a 118.2 offensive rating and a 55.9 effective field goal percentage.

BATTLING IN LINCOLN
It's tough to play in the Big Ten, especially on the road. The University of Nebraska has accumulated a home record of 26-2 over the last two seasons.

DES DOMINATES
Desmond Claude has been instrumental for the Trojans over the last five games. His 19.8 points per game average is in the 99th percentile in the NCAA according to CBB Analytics. He had back-to-back games with 25 or more points as he secured 25 against Iowa and 31 against No. 13 Illinois. With his assists added in, Claude contributed to 39 of the team's 82 points against the Illini and 48 of the team's 99 against the Hawkeyes.

WHEREABOUTS
This game between the Trojans and the Cornhuskers will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 22, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Tip-off will be at 6 p.m. PT on the Big Ten Network for those who can't make it to Pinnacle Bank Arena. Fans can also listen in on ESPN LA 710 for the radio broadcast of the game.

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Players Mentioned

Chibuzo Agbo

Rashaun Agee

Desmond Claude

Saint Thomas

Wesley Yates III