USC doesn’t try much, except Floyd’s patience

As if its three-day holiday break weren’t enough, USC took an unscheduled day off Saturday.

The record book may show that the No. 24 Trojans defeated UC Riverside, 70-57, at the Galen Center, but USC looked more in need of an overhaul than a tuneup after snoozing through the first 32 1/2 minutes of its final nonconference game.

When Highlanders junior guard Aaron Scott made two free throws with 7 minutes 32 seconds remaining, USC’s advantage stood at only 57-53 and it was still anybody’s game.

Even though the Trojans pulled away on the strength of a 12-0 run that included several impressive moves by freshman guard O.J. Mayo, who finished with a game-high 20 points, it was hardly the momentum-builder they sought heading into Pacific 10 Conference play Thursday against California.

“It’s just back to the drawing board,” said sophomore forward Taj Gibson, who had 13 points and six rebounds. “Go back and practice even harder. Coach [Tim] Floyd told us to get ready to practice again and get ready for the rebounding because he said we need a lot of improvement in our game.”

Of greatest concern was the fact that the Highlanders (3-8) outrebounded the Trojans (9-3), 38-36, with a lineup that doesn’t compare to California’s front line of 6-foot-11 center DeVon Hardin and 6-10 forward Ryan Anderson. Floyd said Riverside probably didn’t have one player who could start for USC.

“They beat us on the glass over the course of the game with a bunch of 6-2 and 6-3 guys,” Floyd said. “Not real pleased with our effort tonight.”

The Trojans also failed to defend the perimeter. When freshman guard Angelo Johnson closed late and made contact with Riverside guard Larry Cunningham on a three-point basket in the first half, it set up a four-point-play opportunity. Cunningham converted the chance when he made the free throw to give the Highlanders a 26-12 lead.

Riverside, seeking its first road victory after six losses in which its average margin of defeat was 20 points, didn’t fold. The score was tied, 34-34, at halftime and the Highlanders led, 43-42, on a Cunningham jumper early in the second half before USC finally started to click.

“They are one of the better teams in the country,” said UCR Coach Jim Wooldridge, a close friend of Floyd’s who was on his staff with the Chicago Bulls. “We would have had to play picture-perfect to beat them.”

After Scott’s free throws pulled Riverside to within 57-53, Mayo lost his balance on a foray into the lane but stayed with the drive and made a layup. Mayo then buried a jumper and later found Keith Wilkinson cutting toward the basket on a screen-and-roll play that gave USC a double-digit lead and erased worries of another Mercer debacle -- the Trojans’ shocking loss in their season opener Nov. 10.

USC failed to shoot 50% for a third consecutive game, making only 45.6%, but held a ninth consecutive opponent to 62 points or fewer, the first time that has happened since the 1949-50 season. Riverside shot only 32.8%, the seventh consecutive opponent USC has held under 40%.

The Trojans’ bench was short-handed, with freshman guard Marcus Simmons remaining home in Louisiana to rest his bothersome ankle.

“It just hasn’t had a chance to get well and we viewed this as an opportunity to give him seven days off and maybe try to get him back, but I don’t know that he’s ever going to be 100% this year,” Floyd said.

The Trojans’ psyche may be a little short of capacity as well.

“I just think we didn’t come out with any intensity,” Johnson said. “It’s one of those games. I’m glad we picked it up in the second half.”

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UP NEXT FOR USC

Thursday at California, Haas Pavilion, 7:30 p.m. -- USC opens Pacific 10 Conference play against California, whose sophomore forward Ryan Anderson averages 21.7 points and senior center DeVon Hardin averages 10.5 rebounds. USC swept Cal last season, pulling out a 76-73 victory in Berkeley after Daniel Hackett’s layup with 17 seconds left provided the go-ahead points.

ben.bolch@latimes.com