USC Basketball vs Montana: Preview, Time, Lineups and Live Stream

USC basketball opens the 2016 slate on Friday night, hosting the Montana Grizzlies at the Galen Center with a young but hungry team.

Galen Center | Los Angeles, CA8:00 pm | Pac-12 NetworkAll-Time Series: Tied 1-1Last meeting: USC 25, Montana 29 in 1931

Andy Enfield’s Trojans are back in action Friday night, hoping to build on last season’s success with cast of new and returning players.

After making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, USC basketball was hit with a slew of departures, from Julian Jacobs and Nikola Jovanovic opting to enter the NBA Draft to Katin Reinhardt deciding to transfer away, along with others.

Despite the losses, the Trojans enter the 2016 set up for success with a core of exciting young players and key returning veterans.

Juniors Jordan McLaughlin and Elijah Stewart anchor the starting backcourt while sophomores Bennie Boatwright and Chimezie Metu will look to build on promising freshman campaigns in the frontcourt.

More from Reign of Troy

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• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

Newcomer Shaqquan Aaron transferred from Louisville last year and had to sit out last season as part of NCAA transfer policy. Now eligible for the Trojans, he figures to play a pivotal role on the wing.

Another transfer, Charles Bugges of Minnesota, is primed to contribute under the basket while a talented group of freshmen, highlighted by guard Jonah Matthews, will look to make their mark early.

Montana is coming off of a 21-win season in 2015-16, good enough to finish second in the Big Sky conference.

The Grizzlies return four starters from the team which were runners up in the Big Sky Conference tournament. They have also added Oregon transfer Ahmaad Rorie to the roster to bolster their starting line up.

Led by guard Walter Wright, a preseason All-Big Sky pick, Montana hopes to spoil the party at the Galen Center. However, history is on USC’s side. The Trojans have won six of their last seven home openers.

Probable Starters

Montana:

G #5 Walter Wright, 5-10, 161, Sr.G #14 Ahmaad Rorie, 6-1, 175, RS So.G #34 Brandon Gfeller, 6-4, 190, Sr.F #31 Jack Lopez, 6-5, 210, Sr.F #20 Fabijan Krslovic, 6-8, 225, Jr.

USC:

G #11 Jordan McLaughlin, 6-1, 180, Jr.G #30 Elijah Stewart, 6-5, 190, Jr.G #0 Shaqquan Aaron, 6-7, 190, RS So.F #25 Bennie Boatwright, 6-10, 230, So.C #4 Chimezie Metu, 6-11, 225, So.

Channel Listings: 

DirecTV: —Dish: Channel 406/409AT&T U-Verse: Channel 759/1759Verizon FiOS: —Time Warner Cable: Channel 375/376 or Click here for your local guide.

Live Stream: Pac-12 Network Stream

Odds:

USC opened as a 12-point favorite over Montana, but that line has decreased to 10.5 points, per the VegasInsider.com consensus.