Arizona State @ Southern California preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 8, 2020 ) Southern California 64, Arizona State 66

USC took another step closer toward securing an NCAA Tournament at-large berth and a coveted top-four finish in the congested Pac-12 on Thursday night when it grinded out a 57-48 victory over visiting Arizona. The Trojans now go for a sweep of the Arizona schools Saturday night when they host Arizona State.

The Trojans snapped a two-game losing streak with the win over Wildcats as 6-9 freshman forward Onyeka Okongwu recorded his 11th double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds to go with four blocks and a three-quarter court shot at the buzzer at halftime that extended the Trojans lead to 26-21 while senior guard Jonah Mathews finished the game with 14 points. "It's do or die," Mathews said. "I don't have another year. Every rebound, every shot, everything matters. It's crunch time before March Madness." Meanwhile, Arizona State, which began the week in first place, dropped down to third with a key 75-72 loss at UCLA, losing when freshman guard Jaime Jaquez sank a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 0.6 seconds remaining. "It was a hell of a game to be a part of," Sun Devils coach Bobby Hurley said. "You see why both teams are at an elite level. ... It was a tough, contested shot. I just wish one of our guys had that opportunity."

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (19-9, 10-5 Pac-12): The Sun Devils lost despite a 30-point performance from point guard Remy Martin and 23 points from senior guard Rob Edwards but couldn't find a way to pull out a game that featured eight ties and 12 lead changes. "We pick up the pieces," Hurley replied when asked where the Sun Devils go from here. "I'm not angry at all at our team. I'm just really impressed with how they competed. I'm proud of how we shot and stayed in the game." Martin leads the team in scoring (19.5 per game) while three other Sun Devils -- guard Alonzo Verge Jr. (14.5), Edwards (11.3) and forward Romello White (10.3) -- also are averaging double figures with White also leading the team in rebounds (9.1).

ABOUT USC (20-9, 9-7): Forty NBA scouts were credentialed for Thursday's game, and Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and Golden State general manager Bob Myers were among the pro executives on hand to watch Okongwu, considered a likely high NBA Lottery pick, as well as the Arizona freshman trio of point guard Nico Mannion, forward Zeke Nnaji and guard Josh Green, who missed the contest with a lower-back injury. Okongwu, whose estimated 70-footer that banked in to end the first half was his first collegiate 3-pointer, leads the Trojans in scoring (16.5), rebounds (8.9) and blocks (2.8) while Mathews is second in scoring (12.9) followed by All-Pac-12 forward Nick Rakocevic (10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds), who played just 11 minutes due to foul trouble against the Wildcats and has lost 10 pounds while battling the flu the past two weeks. "That was a big win for us," USC coach Andy Enfield said. "Our defense was outstanding. To hold them to 48 points is very impressive."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Martin is averaging 22.7 points and has scored at least 20 points seven times in Arizona State's 10 road contests this season. The Sun Devils are 6-4 in those games.

2. USC has won four of its last five home games against Arizona State but lost 66-64 to the Sun Devils in their first meeting this season (Feb. 8) in Tempe, Ariz.

3. The Trojans are 12-2 at home this season, including 8-1 in their last nine.

PREDICTION: USC 72, Arizona State 67