[7:00 PM] Southern Methodist @ USC

Who will WIN this matchup?

Southern Methodist Mustangs (4-1)

@ USC Trojans (4-0)

 

• USC posted a 65-63 road upset last Friday over Texas A&M, which advanced to the Elite Eight last season and avoided a letdown Tuesday by busting New Orleans 88-54. Junior Elijah Stewart scored 21 points, Jonah Matthews added 13 points and fellow freshman De’Anthony Melton added 10 points and five assists.

• SMU had its season-opening three-game win streak snapped last Friday, 76-54 against Michigan, but rebounded Tuesday with an 84-57 rout of UC Santa Barbara behind 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye.

• The 6-8 Ojeleye leads the team in scoring (20.6, third in AAC) and rebounding (8.0, 10th), and the Mustangs have four other players averaging between 10 and 12 points per game. Sophomore guard Shake Milton averages 12 points and leads the team in assists (22), steals (7) and free throw percentage (.912, 11-of-12) while 6-6 senior Sterling Brown chips in 11.2 points. SMU has a plus-15 rebound margin this season, outrebounding all five opponents.

• The 6-5 Stewart leads the team in scoring (18.3), 3-pointers (10) and offensive rebounds (13) while averaging 7.8 rebounds. Chimezie Metu, a 6-11 sophomore, adds 12 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds and 6-10 sophomore Bennie Boatwright averages eight points and five boards. The 6-4 Melton has provided energy off the bench with 9.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and a Pac-12 Conference-leading 3.3 steals in 24 minutes, while fellow frosh Nick Rakocevic adds more size at 6-11 along with five points and 3.5 rebounds in 15.5 minutes.

• SMU has had four players score in double figures in four of five games this season.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Southern Methodist Mustangs

Confidence: 4/10

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