Washington State At Usc

The Cougars (2-0 in the Pacific-10 Conference and 6-3 overall) try to go 3-0 in the Pac-10 for the first time since 1983 when they face the Trojans (0-2 and 5-7) at 7 p.m. in the 15,877-seat Los Angeles Sports Arena. The game will be televised live by Prime Network on Prime Sports Northwest.

At a glance

For one of the few times this season, WSU will have a size advantage inside. But first-year Cougars coach Kevin Eastman still has some major concerns about his young team’s ability to rebound against USC’s active, athletic front line of 6-5 sophomore Jaha Wilson, who ranks second in the Pac-10 in rebounding, and 6-7 senior Lorenzo Orr, who ranks ninth. “You have to keep athletes like that from getting a running start or a free jump at the rim,” Eastman explained. “We just have to get a body somehow on all those athletes.” The Trojans, in their first season under interim head coach Charlie Parker, have six players averaging in double figures but have received little production from their bench. Meanwhile, WSU reserves Rob Corkrum, Tavares Mack, Chris Griffin and David Vik have given Eastman good minutes recently. “I think they have surprised many people with their record,” Parker said of the Cougars. “They have had to adjust to a new coach and new system and have reacted very well.” WSU hasn’t defeated USC on the road since 1986.

WSU: Isaac Fontaine, 18.4 points per game; Mark Hendrickson, 11.7 ppg, 10.4 rebounds per game; Donminic Ellison, 12.3 ppg, 6.7 apg.

USC: Lorenzo Orr, 17.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg; Jaha Wilson, 13.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg; Cameron Murray, 5.0 apg.

Television/Radio: Prime Sports Northwest, 7 p.m.; KXLY (920 AM) Spokane, KWSU (1250 AM) Pullman, KORD 870 AM) Tri-Cities, KCLX (1450 AM) Colfax, KCVL (1240 AM) Colville, KWWW (1340 AM) Wenatchee, KBSN (1470 AM) Moses Lake, KNSN (97.1 FM) Walla Walla, 6:40 p.m.