Long Beach State @ USC preview

Long Beach St. at Southern California

Last Meeting ( Dec 14, 2022 ) Long Beach St. 78, Southern California 88

The highly anticipated collegiate debut of Bronny James is expected to highlight Southern California's matchup at home on Sunday with visiting Long Beach State.

USC (5-3) welcomes the freshman James to the lineup in his return from cardiac arrest suffered July 24. Trojans coach Andy Enfield told reporters on Friday whether James will play is "Bronny's final decision, plus the doctors."

James -- the son of NBA star LeBron James -- has made continuous progress in returning to action, including his first full-contact practices over the week leading up to Long Beach State's visit.

"His timing was very good," Enfield said. "He still has a ways to go just because he hasn't been playing for six or seven months, but very impressive first couple of days."

"It's a big milestone for our family, for sure," LeBron James said in the postgame press conference following the Los Angeles Lakers' win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

Bronny James headlined USC's 2023 signing class alongside Isaiah Collier. Collier's 17.3 points per game are second on the Trojans behind Boogie Ellis, who bumped his average to 22.4 points after scoring 28 in an 89-76 loss on Dec. 2 to Gonzaga in Las Vegas.

USC aims to rebound against a Long Beach State team riding a three-game winning streak.

The Beach (6-4) is scoring 81.6 points per over its last five games after an 88-66 rout of NAIA opponent Life Pacific on Wednesday. Long Beach State is 4-1 in that five-game stretch, thanks in part to balanced offense.

Marcus Tsohonis paces four Beach scorers averaging at least 11 points per game with 17.2. Six Long Beach State players are scoring at least eight points per game, including AJ George, who recorded 12 points off the bench vs. Life Pacific.

"We have one of the best benches in the country," George told the562.org following the win. "Collectively, we let the five starters go out, let them do what they want, and then we just try to come out and match their intensity."

--Field Level Media