Southern California @ Nevada preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2018 ) Nevada 73, Southern California 61

Southern California looks to remain undefeated when it visits Nevada on Saturday night in Reno. The Trojans won their first three games by an average of 19.3 points but should receive a test from the Wolf Pack, who have won 44 of their past 47 home games.

USC is playing on the road for the first time this season after going just 2-8 away from home last season. The Trojans are coming off an 84-66 triumph over South Dakota State as seniors Jonah Mathews (1,009) and Nick Rakocevic (1,007) became the 41st and 42nd players in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark. "Both have had great careers here. Hopefully this will be their best year yet," USC coach Andy Enfield said after Tuesday's win. "They have a chance to do something special this year together - to be leaders of a team. We have a lot of young players that look up to them and if they continue to work hard and lead us I think we have a chance to have a successful season." Nevada has won its past two games under new leader Steve Alford, the former UCLA coach who replaced the departed Eric Musselman.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT USC (3-0): Rakocevic had two lukewarm outings to start the season but broke out in a big way by matching his career high of 27 points while collecting a season-best 16 rebounds in the win over South Dakota State. He is averaging 14 points and nine rebounds, figures that rank second on the squad behind freshman forward Onyeka Okongwu, who averages 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds and has recorded 10 blocked shots. Mathews is averaging 11.7 points and has made a team-best seven 3-pointers.

ABOUT NEVADA (2-1): Senior point guard Lindsey Drew is averaging team highs of 20.3 points and 6.3 assists and is tied for the team-best average in rebounding (7.7) in a strong start after missing last season due to three surgeries - one on his Achilles and also one on each hip. "Lindsey will be the first to tell you that he likes games a lot more than he likes practices," Alford told reporters. "But I did say that I believe he can be the best point guard in the Mountain West and I really believe that." Senior guard Jazz Johnson is averaging 17.3 points and has a team-best 10 3-pointers, while junior guard Jalen Harris (12 points per game) and senior guard Nisre Zouzoua (11.3) are also scoring in double figures.

TIP-INS

1. Nevada recorded a 73-61 road win over USC last season for its first win in three all-time meetings.

2. Mathews is 15 3-pointers away from becoming the sixth player in USC history to reach 200.

3. Harris scored 24 points as the Wolf Pack recorded an 80-73 win over UT Arlington on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Nevada 69, USC 67