FACTS & STATS: The Galen Center (10,258) -- Los Angeles, California. Television: Trojan TV. Home Record: Delaware State 2-0; U-S-C 1-2; Away Record: Delaware State 1-3; U-S-C 2-0. Neutral Record: Delaware State 0-2; U-S-C 3-1. Series Record: First meeting.

GAME NOTES: The 25th-ranked USC Trojans (6-3) play their first "true" game in 13 days when they take on the Delaware State Hornets at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. USC's last effort was a 21-point loss in an exhibition contest against Fresno Pacific on December 8, a game head coach Tim Floyd gave his non-starters a chance for some playing time. One of those players will not see any more game action this season as forward Kasey Cunningham tore his ACL in practice last Wednesday and is out for the year. More importantly, the Trojans need to get back in the win column after suffering consecutive heartbreaking defeats to two of the top teams in the nation -- Kansas and Memphis. USC found itself in front at the half in both games but could not close out either contest, as the Jayhawks rallied for a 59-55 victory and the Tigers roared back to take out the Trojans in overtime, 62-58. Southern Cal's top two scorers are a pair of freshmen with O.J. Mayo lighting up the scoreboard at a 20 ppg clip and Davon Jefferson averaging 14 points per game.

The 3-5 Hornets gave Georgia a little bit of a scare a few weeks ago, cutting a 22-point Bulldog lead to 11 with just under three minutes to go. Nevertheless, coach Greg Jackson's team could not get any closer in its 58-47 loss in Athens. The Hornets followed that performance with a 12-point win over MD-Eastern Shore, giving them a win in their first conference game of the season. A trip to Tempe, Arizona followed, but that contest wasn't a pretty one. Arizona State controlled the game from start to finish, shooting 65 percent from the field for a 39-point victory, 77-38. The Sun Devils held Delaware State to 21 percent from the floor, a far cry from the Hornets' 40 percent season average. Roy Bright has been their lone "bright" spot hitting for 18 points per game, the only player in double figures.

USC is shooting 44 percent from the field this year, but one wouldn't know it from watching the last couple of games. The Trojans shot 29 percent against Memphis and Mayo was way off, nailing just 6-of-20. He also struggled versus Kansas, hitting on only 6-of-21 shots. Still, one has to be impressed as he has a chance to be the first USC freshman to score 10 points or more in his first 10 games. One area of concern for coach Floyd, though, is sophomore Taj Gibson. The forward is still troubled by a sore left ankle which has caused him to miss 13 of his last 16 shots.

It's highly unlikely Delaware State will come anywhere close to USC in this contest, given the talent differential, especially with the game being played in Los Angeles. Stranger things have happened in college basketball, but not tonight.

Predicted Outcome

USC 82, Delaware State 49.