USC Beats Cal, 86-80, Ties for Pac-10 Lead; Dowell Gets 28 Points

Derrick Dowell scored a career-high 28 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and got four steals Saturday afternoon as USC survived a late surge by California to win, 86-80, at the Sports Arena.

It was an impressive, all-around performance by USC’s sophomore forward, but Coach Stan Morrison obviously has set high standards for Dowell.

“Derrick did a great job in every regard,” Morrison said, “but he’s capable of much more. I think his 19 points and 19 rebounds against Arkansas Little Rock earlier in the season was his best game.”

That gives you a clue as to Dowell’s potential.

Morrison had said earlier in the week that the thought of playing Cal scared him, but no one took him seriously. After all, the Bears are in last place in the Pac-10 race with a 1-6 record.

But Cal made it close, trimming USC’s lead to 77-75 and 79-77 in the closing minute before the Trojans made some clutch free throws to avert an upset.

It was an important win for the Trojans. They moved into a tie for first place in the Pac-10 with Oregon State, which was upset by Arizona State in double overtime Saturday. USC and OSU are 5-1 in the league race and the Trojans improved their overall record to 11-4.

USC led at halftime, 33-25, and maintained a seven to 10-point lead throughout most of the second half. The outcome seemed predictable.

No way. Leonard Taylor, Cal’s freshman center from St. Bernard High School, scored on a layup with 61 seconds left to trim USC’s advantage to 77-73.

Dowell’s subsequent inbounds pass was stolen by Cal forward Jeff Thilgen, who was fouled and converted both of his free throws in a one-and-one situation.

USC forward Wayne Carlander then made what was probably the play of the game. He was triple-teamed in the backcourt but, while pressured, he still managed to get a pass away to Dowell, who was streaking to the basket.

Dowell gave USC a four-point cushion, 79-75, with his slam with 36 seconds remaining. Taylor kept it close by making two free throws, but USC wingman Ron Holmes made four foul shots in the closing seconds and the Trojans held on to win.

Taylor got 22 of his 27 points in the second half after failing to get a basket in the first half. The 6-8 center seems destined to be a star in the Pac10.

“I really admired the way Cal fought back,” said Morrison, who used to play for the Bears during the Pete Newell era in the late 50s and early 60s. “They did some clever things to get back in the game. The combination of the quickness and penetration of their guards (Kevin Johnson and Chris Washington) and the fact we looked slow at times really created some problems for us.”

Cal, now 9-8 overall, does the best with what it has. Taylor doesn’t get much support on the front line. The Bears would be more formidable if they hadn’t lost veteran forward Dave Butler earlier in the season. He has stress fractures in both knees and may not rejoin the team.

Dowell stands only 6-6, but he’s a tenacious inside player. He scored most of his points on offensive rebounds and layups. He even directed a lob pass into the basket in the second half.

But he was involved in a more spectacular play. He got a clean steal and gave the ball to point guard Larry Friend, who passed to forward Kevin Steward. Dowell, trailing the play, got a behind-the-back pass from Steward and scored on a slam.

This bang-bang, fast-break provided USC with a 51-40 lead with 13 1/2 minutes left. Cal would be heard from later.

Dowell, a prep star from Evansville, Ind., said he never is totally satisfied with his game, adding that he just crashed the boards a little harder.

“I’m not fazed by my own stats,” he said. “I just want us to win and get into the NCAA playoffs. I’ve been in a slump the last few games but I knew I’d come out of it sooner or later.

“We have to work on playing 40 minutes and, when we do, we’ll be a good team. We’re only playing 25 to to 30 minutes now and we’re letting other teams back into the game.”

Dowell came into the game as USC’s leading rebounder, averaging eight a game.

“I know how our players shoot the ball and I know how it comes off the rim,” said Dowell, who pulled down eight offensive rebounds. “And I just keep moving.”

USC played most of the game without a pure center, sacrificing bulk for quickness against Cal, which doesn’t have a starter taller than 6-8.

Clayton Olivier, USC’s 6-10 center, was writhing on the floor clutching his right knee in the opening minute of the game--37 seconds to be precise.

“His knee popped out of the joint,” Morrison said. “It was amazing that he even went back in the game.”

But Olivier didn’t stay around for long. He played only eight minutes. He played only five minutes against Arizona State a week ago in Tempe, Ariz., after getting into early foul trouble.

Once again, Morrison got a lift from his bench. Center Rod Keller performed capably in a 10-minute stint; guard Glenn Smith was five of nine from the floor and Steward contributed defensively.

Dowell, working hard inside, made 11 of 14 shots. He was supported by Holmes, who finished with 19 points, making seven of nine free throws. Carlander took only 10 shots, made four and grabbed nine rebounds.

USC made 20 of 29 free throws, while Cal was 20 for 28.

“Our free throw shooting has been very good in the last 10 minutes of all of our games,” Morrison said.

USC will try to take over sole possession of first place--an unaccustomed perch for the Trojans--against Stanford Monday night at the Sports Arena.