Stanford Cardinal (10-4, 2-1 Pac-12)
at
USC Trojans (9-6, 1-2 Pac-12)
Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015 • 7 p.m. (PT)
Los Angeles, Calif. • Galen Center (10,258)
Series History: USC leads 123-122
Last Meeting: Stanford 80, USC 59 (Feb. 20, 2014 at Stanford, Calif.)
Radio: KNBR 1050 AM (PxP: Scott Reiss, Analyst: John Platz)
TV: ESPNU (PxP: Roxy Bernstein, Analyst: Corey Williams)
The Opening Tip
Stanford (10-4, 2-1 Pac-12) wraps up its road trip Sunday against USC (9-6, 1-2 Pac-12) at 7 p.m. Recent SoCal swings have not been kind to Stanford, dropping 17 of its last 19 games against both Los Angeles schools combined (0-10 vs. UCLA, 2-7 vs. USC).
Scouting USC
USC (9-6, 1-2 Pac-12) defeated California 71-57 on Wednesday, winning only its third conference game since the start of last season ... The Trojans own notable wins over New Mexico, Drexel, Utah State and Boston College ... USC is averaging 67.3 points and 38.5 rebounds while making 42.2 percent overall but only 29.0 percent from three-point range and 62.6 percent from the foul line ... Keep an eye on: Nikola Jovanovic (12.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 52.0 percent FG), Katin Reinhardt (10.7 ppg, 81.6 percent FT), Julian Jacobs (7.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 55.6 percent FG, 40 assists).
Stanford All-Time vs. USC
USC leads the all-time series at 123-122. Stanford has won four of the last six matchups, including a sweep of the 2014 season series. The Cardinal won last season’s meeting in Los Angeles, prevailing 79-71 in overtime. Stanford is looking for its first three-game winning streak against USC since a four-game streak spanning 2004-05.
Notable Career Totals Against USC
In six career games, Chasson Randle is averaging 12.5 points despite shooting 24-67 (35.8 percent) overall. Also in six appearances, Anthony Brown is averaging 8.3 points while shooting 17-50 (34.0 percent). In five contests, Stefan Nastic is averaging 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 7-16 (43.7 percent).
Takeaways From The UCLA Game
UCLA erased a 14-point deficit with 9:57 remaining in regulation before finally pulling away from Stanford in an 86-81 double-overtime victory ... Stanford last played back-to-back overtime games in 2007, falling 85-80 to Arizona (March 3) and 83-79 to USC (March 8). The Cardinal’s last loss in a double-overtime game was a 90-86 setback against Gonzaga on Jan. 31, 2007 ... Chasson Randle finished with a game-best 32 points (11-25 FG, 7-13 3FG, 3-6 FT) -- one off his career high -- while Anthony Brown added 21 points (7-17 FG, 5-11 3FG) ... Stanford made 15 three-pointers, matching a school record that had been achieved three other times, most recently against Arizona State on March 13, 2013 ... The last opponent to grab at least 50 rebounds was Oregon State, pulling down 54 boards in Stanford’s 103-101 quadruple-overtime victory on Jan. 7, 2012 ... Kevon Looney and Tony Parker became the first teammates to record double-doubles in a game against Stanford since Nov. 22, 2012, when Missouri’s Laurence Bowers and Earnest Ross accomplished the feat.
Allen Excels In Reserve Role
A shift to the bench has paid immediate dividends for Rosco Allen, who is averaging 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 52.6 percent overall and 10-20 from three-point range over the last six games. Allen, who started the season’s first eight games, has provided the Cardinal with much-needed scoring punch in his new role.
10th-Fewest Turnovers In Nation
Stanford has excelled at taking care of the basketball, with its 143 turnovers representing the 10th-fewest total in the country. The Cardinal has committed 10 miscues or fewer in nine games this season, averaging only 10.2 per game.
Cartwright Makes First Career Start
Robert Cartwright replaced Christian Sanders in Thursday’s starting lineup against UCLA, becoming the fifth player to make his first career start this season. Cartwright joined Marcus Allen, Dorian Pickens, Reid Travis and Grant Verhoeven as first-time starters. Head coach Johnny Dawkins has employed six different lineups through 14 games after using just two combinations all of last season.
