Princeton @ Southern California preview

Despite returning 98 percent of its scoring from a team that made a surprising run to the NCAA Tournament's Round of 32 last season, USC sputtered badly on offense during a recent three-game losing streak, managing just 59 and 55 points in back-to-back losses to Texas A&M and SMU. But the Trojans, who host Princeton on Tuesday in a non-bracket matchup in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, appeared to find their offensive mojo in Sunday's 98-87 victory over UC Santa Barbara.

Chimezie Metu, a springy 6-11 junior forward and potential NBA lottery pick, scored a career-high 31 points in the win over the Gauchos despite missing over five minutes as he received three stitches near his right eye to repair a laceration. Senior point guard Jordan McLaughlin also had a game to remember, scoring 10 points and dishing off a Pac-12 record-tying 19 assists, which also shattered his school record of 16. "Those are two NBA players we played," UC Santa Barbara coach Joe Pasternack, who has Maxwell Kupchak - son of former NBA forward Mitch Kupchak - on his roster, told reporters. Even more impressive for the Trojans is the fact they scored a season-high 98 points while snapping UCSB's seven-game winning streak despite missing second-leading scorer Bennie Boatwright (15.4), who sat out the contest with soreness in his right foot due to a plantar wart.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT PRINCETON (4-6): This is the second contest of a 12-day, five-game trip to California and Hawaii for the Tigers, who could end up playing the Trojans again on Saturday in Honolulu. Returning All-Ivy League First Team guard Myles Stephens, the reigning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year who is averaging 14.6 points and a team-leading 5.6 rebounds, earned Conference Player of the Week honors this week after averaging 17.5 points and five rebounds in wins over Monmouth (69-58) and Cal Poly. Junior guard Devin Cannady leads the team in scoring (18.4 points) and is shooting 50.7 percent (35-for-69) from 3-point range.

ABOUT USC (6-3): Four Trojans are averaging double digits in points - including Metu (17.8), who also is second in rebounds (8.1) and leads the team with 17 blocks. The 6-10 Boatwright is second in scoring (15.4 points) and tops the club in rebounding (8.3) while McLaughlin (13.3 points), who leads the Pac-12 in assists (8.1), and guard Elijah Stewart (11.4 points) also average in double digits. "Jordan McLaughlin is a special player," coach Andy Enfield told reporters after Sunday's record performance. "He's been spectacular all season long."

TIP-INS

1. USC finished with 28 assists in the win over UC Santa Barbara, the most in a game for the Trojans since they had 29 against George Mason on Dec. 20, 1995.

2. This is only the second meeting between the schools, with USC defeating the Tigers 70-52 in 1972 at The Palestra in Philadelphia.

3. McLaughlin also ranks second in the Pac-12 in steals (2.33) behind Washington's Matisse Thybulle (3.18).

PREDICTION: USC 84, Princeton 66