Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - The 16th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils get a three-game road trip started tonight, as they tangle with the USC Trojans in a Pac-10 matchup at the Galen Center.
Despite one loss, ASU has been rather impressive in league play thus far, winning its three games by an average of 26.3 ppg. Most recently, the team capped a short two-game homestand with a 76-58 triumph of Oregon for its second straight victory. Now at 14-2 overall, ASU returns back to the road, where it has gone an even 1-1 in conference play. Following this game, the Sun Devils will head to UCLA for a key showdown before concluding their road swing at rival Arizona.
As for USC, it kicked off a three-game homestand on Sunday, dropping a 64-60 decision to UCLA. It was the first home loss and the second in a row overall for the Trojans, who fell to 10-5 and 8-1 at the Galen Center.
USC though, does lead the all-time series with ASU, 46-31, and it won two of three meetings last season, including a 59-55 victory in the Pac-10 Tournament.
The Sun Devils are dangerous because they can dominate at either end of the court, as they are scoring 75.6 ppg on a efficient 51.9 percent shooting from the field, while holding foes to just 58.3 ppg. James Harden is one of the most versatile players in the nation and he paces ASU in scoring (23.1 ppg) and steals (33), to go with 5.8 rpg and 4.7 apg. Jeff Pendergraph is another weapon for the Sun Devils and he turns in 13.6 ppg and a team-best 7.1 rpg, while Rihards Kuksiks chips in with 10.9 ppg on 52.9 percent shooting from three-point range. On Saturday, Harden posted 19 points, four assists and four steals to lead ASU in a win over Oregon. Derek Glasser recorded a double- double with 15 points and 11 assists, while Kuksiks had 13 points. Pendergraph added 10 points and seven boards for the Sun Devils, who shot 54.5 percent from the floor, including 8-of-18 from long distance.
If the Trojans want to spring an upset tonight they will have to continue their success on the glass, where they are outrebounding opponents by 8.3 rpg on the season. Taj Gibson is a major presence in the paint for USC and he averages a double-double with 15.3 ppg and 10.3 rpg. Dwight Lewis isn't much of a rebounder, but he is tied with Gibson for the team-lead in scoring at 15.3 ppg. DeMar DeRozan adds 12.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg to the rotation, while Daniel Hackett contributes 11.1 ppg and a team-high 5.7 apg. On Sunday, USC won the battle on the boards, 31-26, but was outscored from three-point land, 24-9, and at the foul line, 14-9, in a narrow loss to UCLA. DeRozan paced the team in the setback with 15 points and five boards, while Hackett and Gibson both finished with 13 points.
