Men’s Basketball | December 13, 2024

LOS ANGELES – After a week off from play, the USC men’s basketball team (6-4, 1-1 Big Ten) will be back at the Galen Center for its next four-game homestand. While back in non-conference play, the Trojans face the Bobcats of Montana State this Sunday, December 15th. Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. and fans can watch on the Big Ten Network.

LAST TIME

USC traveled to its first Big Ten Conference road game of the season, playing a familiar opponent in Washington. The Trojans had a phenomenal start to the home opener Wesley Yates III and trainer Quincy Pondexter And Will Conroy They scored a season-high 51 points in the first half. At the start of the second half, the Trojans continued to put pressure on the Huskies and won 85-61 against their former Pac-12 rival.

Desmond Claude He led the offense for the second straight game and scored 20 points. He was closely followed by Yates III, who scored 19 points Saint Thomaswho also contributed 19 points. Another Trojan ended the night with double-digit points, and that was it Rashaun Ageewho scored 15 points.

USC – HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

This is the second time in USC men’s basketball history that these two teams will play each other. The last time they saw each other was in the 1968-69 season when the Trojans defeated the Bobcats in overtime.

Looking for the Bobcats

• Montana State has an overall record of 5-5 this season. Last season, the Bobcats finished the regular season with a 14-17 record before winning the Big Sky Conference Championship and earning a spot in one of the first four games of the NCAA Tournament, where they ultimately lost to Grambling.
• The Bobcats are an elite team when it comes to three-point shots. Not only are they 31st in the country in three-pointers made with an average of 10.2 per game, but they are also great at defending from beyond the arc, holding their opponents to 26.9 percent from three-point range .
• Montana State returned key members of the team that helped them win the Big Sky Championship last season, and those same players are taking on leadership roles for the Bobcats this season. Three of the five starters made important contributions to the team last season.
• Junior forward Brandon Walker has had the biggest impact on offense. He leads the Bobcats with an average of 14.3 points per game. He was selected to the Big Sky All-Preseason Team after earning All-Big Sky Honorable Mention honors last season.
• Former Trojan Max Agbonkpolo returns to the Galen Center for the first time since 2022. Since arriving in Bozeman, he has started in all 10 games and averaged 12.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
• Jade Mullins was an influential player for the Bobcats. He has started every game since transferring from Washington State and leads the team with an average of 3.7 assists per game.

AGAINST THE GREAT SKY

When it comes to teams in the Big Sky Conference, the Trojans are usually successful. USC Men’s Basketball has an overall record of 35-4 when competing against teams in the Big Sky.

attract attention

When it comes to getting to the free throw line, Desmond Claude made it to the finish line the most times on the USC team. He averages 5.8 fouls per game. His best game in the charity stripe came against Washington, when he hit a season-high nine free throws on 11 attempts. He also went 8-for-9 against UT Arlington earlier in the season.

BUZO’S BUCKET
Chibuzo Agbo is second on the team with 117 points this season. Agbo is also crucial to the team from outside the arc. When he makes at least one three-pointer in a game, the team has a record of 8-2. If Agbo doesn’t make a three-pointer, the team is 0-2.