[11:05 PM] Wyoming v. #23 USC

Who will WIN this matchup?

Wyoming Cowboys (10-2)

#23 USC Trojans (12-0)

 

• Two of the most surprising teams in the country meet Friday as Wyoming takes on No. 25 USC in the championship game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Wyoming is off to a 10-2 start after being picked to finish 10th in the Mountain West Conference, while USC improved to 12-0 with Thursday’s 83-75 win over Missouri State.

• Junior forward Elijah Stewart made four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 21 points in the win over Missouri State as the Trojans shot 55 percent from the field and outscored the Bears in the paint 38-18. Forward Bennie Boatwright will be out for another three to four weeks with a knee injury, but coach Andy Enfield has seen several players step up in his absence, including 6-11 sophomore forward Chimezie Metu, who had 13 points and nine rebounds in Thursday’s victory. After dominating the paint against smaller lineups in recent games, the Trojans will be tested by a Wyoming team that is holding opponents to 37.2 percent shooting. Sophomore guard Justin James averages 16.3 points on 47.3 percent shooting to pace the Cowboys, who lead the Mountain West in 3-pointers made per game at 8.9.

• Junior forward Hayden Dalton continued his strong start with his third straight double-double in Thursday’s 72-58 win over DePaul as the Cowboys held the Blue Demons to 28 percent shooting from the field. Junior forward Alan Herndon averages 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Cowboys, who are facing their second Pac-12 foe this season after losing 71-61 at California on Nov. 25.

• It might be time to start believing in the Trojans, who were picked to finish seventh in the Pac-12 but possess a balanced offense directed by junior point guard Jordan McLaughlin, who has emerged as a primary scoring threat over the last five games. USC, which opens league play at Oregon State on Dec. 28, received a solid outing Thursday from freshman guard De’Anthony Melton, who had 12 points and six rebounds off the bench and continues to shine defensively.

• Wyoming’s bench has scored 40 or more points five times in the last seven games.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: #23 USC Trojans

Confidence: 5/10

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