USC vs. Providence: First Four play-in game key stats, streaks, facts

Chimezie Metu #4 and De'Anthony Melton #22 of USC talk on the court during the Pac-12 Tournament on March 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

By Associated Press

March 15, 2017

1 minute to read

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — No. 11 seed Providence (20-12) vs. No. 11 seed USC (24-9)

First Four, East region; Dayton, Ohio; 9:10 p.m. EDT.

BOTTOM LINE: A rematch of last year’s first-round NCAA Tournament matchup that saw ninth-seeded Providence upset No. 8 seed Southern California, 70-69.

STRONG SCHEDULES: Providence was 3-6 against AP Top 25 teams this season. The highest-ranked team beaten by the Friars was then-No. 21 Rhode Island on Dec. 3. USC was 1-6 against ranked opponents, knocking off then-No. 8 UCLA on Jan. 25.

BIG SCORERS: Southern Cal’s leading scorers are big men: 6-foot-10 Bennie Boatright (14.6 ppg) and 6-foot-11 Chimezie Metu (14.5). Rodney Bullock leads the Friars with 15.7 ppg.

DID YOU KNOW: Last season’s win over the Trojans was the first NCAA Tournament win for the Friars in 19 years.

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