Southern California @ Marquette preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2012 ) Marquette 72, Southern California 64

USC will need another big defensive effort to advance to the championship game of the Orlando Invitational when it faces Markus Howard and Marquette in the semifinals Friday afternoon in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Trojans held Fairfield to 27 percent shooting in a 54-47 victory Thursday and the challenge gets more difficult against Howard, who scored 40 points in the 73-63 win over Davidson in the first round.

Freshman forward Onyeka Okongwu recorded his third double-double of the season with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in the first round as USC rebounded from its first loss of the season against Temple last Friday. “I thought it was great team defense,” Trojans coach Andy Enfield told reporters after his team held the Stags to eight field goals inside the 3-point arc. “Our guards played tough, especially against their perimeter shooters.” Howard struggled with his shooting in the previous two games, going 8-for-27 from the field, but drained 11-of-26 against Davidson and 5-of-10 from behind the 3-point arc overall to help the Golden Eagles post 48 points in the second half. Marquette owns a 10-point win over Purdue this season and suffered its only loss against Wisconsin 77-61 on Nov. 17.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT USC (6-1): Okongwu is averaging teams highs of 17.4 points along with three blocks and shares the team lead in rebounds with nine per contest after connecting on 6-of-11 from the field in the first round. Senior forward Nick Rakocevic struggled to a 2-for-9 shooting performance against Fairfield, but is second on the team in scoring (13.3) while matching Okongwu on the glass. Senior guard Jonah Mathews recorded 14 points Thursday to push his season average to 11.6 and sophomore backcourt mate Elijah Weaver added 13.

ABOUT MARQUETTE (4-1): It was Howard’s fifth career game with at least 40 points and the 5-11 senior leads the team at 25 per contest, matching his average from last season, and has 18 makes from 3-point range. Junior guard Koby McEwen was held to three points against Davidson and is the only other Golden Eagle averaging in double figures scoring (13.2) while topping the team in rebounds (5.8), assists (3.2) and making 11-of-20 from 3-point range. Senior guard Sacar Anim chipped in with 12 points in Thursday’s victory and averages 9.4.

TIP-INS

1. Marquette sophomore F Brendan Bailey scored 18 points over the last two games after managing three in the first three of the season.

2. USC freshman G Ethan Anderson had two assists in 16 minutes Thursday, but leads the team at 5.4 per contest.

3. The Golden Eagles won the only previous meeting 72-64 in November 2012.

PREDICTION: USC 72, Marquette 68