Streaking Southern California takes on Southern to close out year

Southern California can close out the 2024 portion of its schedule with a four-game winning streak on Sunday when the Trojans host Southern University in Los Angeles.

USC (8-4) has rebounded from a three-game losing skid by winning its last three games, the most recent a 90-69 rout of Cal State Northridge on Wednesday. Chibuzo Agbo improved his season scoring average to 12.7 points per game with his 23 against the Matadors, and Desmond Claude complemented a career-high-matching nine assists with 21 points.

Claude, a junior guard, is averaging a team-high 14.7 points along with 3.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game against 2.3 turnovers for the Trojans.

"A player (who) people wondered if he could be a point guard, there's not a lot of point guards who play a whole season and can have a nine-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio and score the ball at the rate that he hit," Southern California coach Eric Musselman said of Claude.

After struggling offensively in their three-game losing streak, in particular notching 36 and 60 points in losses to Saint Mary's and then-No. 12 Oregon, the Trojans have registered at least 85 points in each of their last three games.

Southern (5-6) faces Southern California for the second time in program history -- the Trojans won a 2004 matchup 91-58 -- in the Jaguars' second game of a weekend swing through Los Angeles. Southern dropped an 89-73 decision at Loyola Marymount on Friday despite PJ Dobuol's 19-point, 10-rebound performance off the bench.

Doubol is part of a newcomer contingent that Jaguars coach Kevin Johnson said gives Southern depth, particularly in the backcourt.

"We added some guys who help our guard play," Johnson said. "Last year, we had a little attrition with injuries down the stretch. We're better in that area this year."

Southern heads into Sunday's game with eight players averaging between Doubol's 6.1 points and Michael Jacobs' team-leading 11.5 per game. Of that group, however, Tidjiane Dioumassi -- a 2023-24 All-Southwestern Athletic Conference second-team selection -- missed the Loyola Marymount loss after he had returned from a previous two-game absence for the Jaguars' 74-61 loss at Ole Miss on Tuesday.

--Field Level Media