GAME NOTES: Trying to recover from consecutive Pac-12 Conference losses, the USC Trojans will entertain the California Golden Bears in a conference tilt at the Galen Center on Wednesday.

USC had won back-to-back contests prior to kicking off conference play against Utah, but the Trojans were dropped by the Utes, 79-55, which was followed up just two days later with an 86-65 drubbing at the hands of Colorado. The Trojans have slipped to 8-6 on the season, but still own a 5-2 mark at home.

California hasn't been that hot lately either. The Golden Bears have dropped three of their last four games, which includes a 69-66 edging at the hands of Washington State Sunday. Despite the loss, Cal is still 2-0 on the road this season.

These long-time rivals have an extremely deep history. California leads the all-time series over USC, 133-121, with a 77-64 win last February serving as the most recent head-to-head clash between the sides.

A poor first half offensively can be to blame for the Golden Bears falling to Washington State. Cal connected on just 25.9 percent of its field goal tries in the opening frame, and fell behind when the teams broke for halftime, 24-20. A furious second-half attempt at a comeback fell short in the three- point loss. Jordan Mathews scored a team-best 24 points with seven rebounds in the defeat, while Tyrone Wallace added 16 points, seven boards and six assists. David Kravish brought down a team-high 10 rebounds for the Golden Bears, who hit the road for the first time in their last eight contests.

Wallace has been sensational this season for the Golden Bears, who are trying to return to the form that saw them win seven consecutive contests just prior to their most recent four-game stretch. Wallace is scoring a team-high 18.9 ppg this season, and also leads the squad in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and assists (4.2 apg). His 23 steals is also the most on Cal's roster. Mathews (14.8 ppg) and Kravish (14.8 ppg) are two more double-digit scorers for the Bears, while Jabari Bird (11.7 ppg in six games played) continues to sit out with a bruised left foot. As a unit, the Golden Bears are averaging 68.9 ppg, and are holding opponents to 61.3 ppg this season.

The Trojans traveled to Boulder and shot a respectable 43.8 percent from the floor, but still managed to drop the clash with the Buffaloes by 21 points. Colorado was able to shoot 55.2 percent in the contest, including 46.7 percent from 3-point distance. Nikola Jovanovic scored 14 points to pace the Trojans in scoring, while Julian Jacobs (11 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Strahinj Gavrilovic (10 points) also added double digits in the loss.

The Trojans clearly missed Jordan McLaughlin, the team's leading scorer at 12.7 ppg, who sat out with a bruised shoulder. McLaughlin is listed as questionable to play in this clash. USC has been a disappointment in general offensively this season, entering this game netting just 67.0 ppg (last in the Pac-12) with a 30.1 shooting percentage from 3-point range (also last in the conference). Jovanovic (12.1 ppg) and Katin Reinhardt (10.3 ppg) make up the last double- figure scorers for the Trojans this season. Jovanovic tops the squad in rebounding at 8.1 boards per game, and McLaughlin leads the team with 64 assists on the year.

California has no qualms about hitting the road to take on an opponent, especially when that opponent is a struggling USC team that hasn't been able to generate much offense at all recently. If McLaughlin is out or limited in any way, the Trojans will yet again be at a serious disadvantage.