Temple @ Southern California preview

For the first time since 1963, USC has won its first five games by at least seven or more points. The Trojans will try to keep that streak alive on Friday night when they host unbeaten Temple.

USC is coming in off a 91-84 home victory over Pepperdine on Tuesday that saw 6-9 freshman forward Onyeka Okongwu score a career-high 33 points, the most by a Trojan freshman since O.J. Mayo scored 37 in a 2008 game against Arizona State. Okongwu, a two-time California Mr. Basketball selection who helped lead Chino Hills High School to three state titles, including his freshman year when he played with New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, also was 17-of-21 at the free throw line, the most free throws ever made by a Trojan at the Galen Center and the third most made in a game in USC history. "Oneyka does what he does well," Trojan coach Andy Enfield said. "And when he is fouled, he makes his free throws. He played a smart game." Temple, tabbed to finish seventh in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll, comes in off a 70-65 Big 5 win over La Salle on Saturday and also has won home games over Drexel (70-62) and Morgan State (75-57).

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

ABOUT TEMPLE (3-0): The Owls, who return three starters and 10 lettermen from a team that lost to Belmont in the First Four in the NCAA Tournament, built a 21-point second half lead before holding off a late La Salle charge to give head coach Aaron McKie his first Big 5 coaching victory. Junior guard Nate Pierre-Louis posted his third straight double-double (21 points, 12 rebounds) and fourth in a row dating back to last season while senior guard Quinton Rose added 18 points and three steals. Pierre-Louis leads the team in scoring (18.7 per game) with Rose (16.0) and guard Alanui Moore II (10.3) also averaging double figures.

ABOUT USC (5-0): Okongwu is just part of an impressive Trojan front line that also includes 6-11 senior Nick Rakocevic, a preseason first team All-Pac-12 pick, and 6-10 freshman Isaiah Mobley, a McDonald's All-American who had 14 points in 18 minutes off the bench against the Waves. Rakocevic, the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week, finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and a career-best six assists against Pepperdine for his third consecutive double-double and also sank his first career 3-pointer. Okongwu leads the team in scoring (18.2) followed by Rakocevic (16.4), who also leads the team in rebounds (9.8), while senior guard Jonah Mathews (11.8) also is averaging in double digits.

TIP-INS

1. USC leads the series with Temple, 5-2, but lost the last meeting, 65-54, on Nov. 27, 1994.

2. The Trojans are 33-4 in their last 37 home non-conference games.

3. Temple is averaging 12.3 steals per game which ranks seventh in the NCAA with Pierre-Louis leading the way with an average of 4.33 per contest which is tied for second nationally.

PREDICTION: USC 78, Temple 73