Trojans finally get their hands on a victory

USC basketball Coach Kevin O’Neill said it was a gag, a hoax, that the game that supposedly took place Tuesday at the Galen Center was staged.

“Before we get started,” he said at his news conference, “I just wanted to let you guys know we were filming a bloopers reel of turnovers for a “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” show coming up on the first of January.

“So we were just faking it all out there -- I hope . . . “

It should be quite a show, considering USC had a season-high 25 turnovers in its 51-36 win over Sacramento State on Tuesday night before a crowd of 2,213.

The ball seemed covered in butter. It was fumbled away beneath the basket. It was tossed errantly to the opposing team’s waiting hands. It sailed on blown dunks and point-blank layups went awry.

“A win is a win, but that’s a sloppy win,” said senior guard Dwight Lewis, who led the Trojans with 16 points. “Twenty five turnovers is unacceptable.”

The win ends a losing streak at three games, but the turnovers are nothing new. In their three games before Tuesday, the Trojans had 17, 17 and 19 turnovers, respectively.

“I feel like some games we don’t have too many turnovers and some games it’s just ridiculous, like today,” Lewis said.

It’s a trend O’Neill said he’s seeing every day in practice.

“That’s who we are,” he said. “We’re not a dribble-pass-shoot team. We’re limited right now on what we can do.”

At this point, USC (3-4) is short-handed. Only seven players checked in against the Hornets. Forward Evan Smith was out with bronchitis, and the Trojans are still waiting on forward Leonard Washington (grades) and guard Mike Gerrity (transfer) to become eligible.

O’Neill said if the turnovers are a result of his players being on the floor for extended minutes, it’s something they’ll have to adjust to.

“But there’s really no excuse for some of the things we’re doing,” he said.

O’Neill was pleased with USC’s defense, which held Sacramento State (4-6) to 23% shooting (14 of 61).

The Trojans out-rebounded the Hornets, 49-29.

“That’s our only chance,” O’Neill said. “We have to defend.”

USC plays host to Idaho State, another Big Sky team, on Friday, and has a week off before hosting No. 9 Tennessee.

Lewis, the lone returning starter from last season, provided some offense Tuesday after playing only six minutes in a 26-point loss to Georgia Tech. He made two three-point shots that fueled a 16-0 run in the second half that put the Trojans up, 43-22, with 10:36 left.

Forward Nikola Vucevic, who made seven of 11 shots and scored six points during that clinching run, continued his strong play with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

North Carolina transfer Alex Stepheson also showed improvement after sitting out last year and missing two games this year because of injury.

Mostly manhandling the Hornets’ big men, he finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and seven blocks. He also had a team-high eight turnovers.

“Slowly but steadily, I’m getting my wind back together,” Stepheson said. “My timing is coming together, my chemistry with the team. We’re going to be good this year.”

For O’Neill, the win, though ugly, was still a win.

“I’m just happy we won,” O’Neill said. “Any time our team has more points than theirs, I like it. But I will admit, it’s frustrating to watch us play at certain points.”

baxter.holmes@latimes.com