USC hosts Chattanooga to tip off season

Trojans look to break five-game skid vs Mocs

USC will host Chattanooga in the season opener for both teams on Monday night at Colonial Life Arena.

The Gamecocks are coming off a 18-13 season in which they finished eighth in the SEC with a 9-9 record.

Streaking Mocs

Chattanooga went 29-8 last season and won the Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships. The Mocs advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Illinois in the first round.

Chattanooga returns three starters from that team, including preseason All-SoCon selection David Jean-Baptiste. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season.

USC is led by senior guard Jermaine Couisnard, who averaged 12.2 points per game last season. The Gamecocks also have a pair of talented freshmen in GG Jackson and Dillon Mitchell.

The game will be televised on ESPNU and will tip off at 7 p.m. ET.