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Sun Devils again try to halt winless streak in Pac-10 play

Feb 18, 2007 - 3:07 PM No. 23 USC (19-7) at Arizona St (6-19) 8:00 pm EST

TEMPE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Arizona State is running out of time to avoid an undesirable distinction.

The Sun Devils continue their quest to avoid a winless season in Pac-10 Conference play and halt a 15-game losing streak overall in Sunday's matchup against No. 23 Southern California.

Still searching for its first first victory since December 21 against North Carolina A&T, Arizona State (6-19, 0-14 Pac-10) is averaging just 54.6 points in conference play.

The Sun Devils hope to prevent their first 20-win loss season since 1996-1997 and are looking to avoid becoming the first team to lose all their Pac-10 games in the same season. USC was 0-14 in 1975-1976 when the conference was known as the Pac-8.

Arizona State squandered a 10-point lead in the final 10 1/2 minutes of Thursday's 67-61 loss to UCLA. Jeff Pendergraph made 6-of-9 shots to score 14 points and Allen Morill added 11 for the Sun Devils.

The Trojans (19-7, 9-4) can clinch their first 20-win season since 2001-2002 and just their third since 1991-1992. They have won four of their last five and are 2 1/2 games behind UCLA in the Pac-10 standings.

USC rebounded from a loss against UCLA with Thursday's 80-75 victory over Arizona. Nick Young and Lodrick Stewart scored 26 points apiece for the Trojans, who won at Tucson for the first time since January 17, 1985.

The Trojans posted a 58-49 triumph over the Sun Devils in their previous matchup January 20.