LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A surging Southern California men’s basketball team, ranked among the nation’s elite with a 9-1 record, will host a struggling Washington State squad on Sunday, Dec. 14, at Galen Center. The Trojans have won nine of their first 10 games, their sole loss an 84-76 defeat to Washington on Dec. 6. They are led by standout guard Chad Baker-Mazara, who is coming off a career-high 31-point, six-assist performance in a 94-81 road win at San Diego on Tuesday. Baker-Mazara has scored 21 or more points in five of his last six games, establishing himself as one of the Pac-12’s most dynamic scorers. USC’s offense, which averages over 87 points per game, will face a Washington State defense that has allowed 78 points per game during its current four-game losing streak. The Cougars (3-7) are looking to halt that skid, having last won on Nov. 24 against Chaminade. Washington State will rely on guard Tomas Thrastarson, who scored a team-high 20 points in the Cougars’ most recent outing, a 78-64 home loss to Nevada on Dec. 7. Thrastarson has been a bright spot, averaging 13.5 points over his last four contests. The matchup pits one of the conference’s most potent offenses against a Washington State team searching for consistency. USC has showcased its firepower in high-scoring victories, including a triple-overtime, 107-106 win over Troy and the recent shootout in San Diego. For the Cougars, the game opens a challenging two-game road swing in California before returning home. The Trojans, meanwhile, begin a stretch of non-conference home games before embarking on a difficult Big Ten conference schedule in January. Sunday’s contest tips off at 5 p.m. PST at Galen Center. USC holds a significant historical advantage in the series and will be a heavy favorite against a Washington State team that has yet to win a true road game this season (0-3). The key battle will be on the perimeter, where Baker-Mazara’s explosive scoring will test a Cougar defense in need of a signature stop.