USC, Shooting Only 36%, Loses to Washington St. in Overtime

A siege of flu that USC’s basketball team has been fighting this week turned to a touch of anemia Thursday night.

The Trojans shot only 33% in the first half, 36% for the game and ultimately lost to Washington State, 77-75, in overtime.

USC missed its first four field goal attempts of the five-minute extra period, fell behind by four points and never got even against the Cougars, who shook off the taunts of a Sports Arena crowd of 3,683 to convert three one-and-one situations in the final 52 seconds, preserving the lead.

The Trojans, who were 7-2 at the Sports Arena, are now 9-10 overall and 3-6 in the Pacific 10. The Cougars, coming off weekend victories over Arizona and Arizona State, are now 12-11 and 5-5.

USC entertains Washington Saturday, while Washington State moves to UCLA.

Tom Lewis, the Trojans freshman forward, broke out of a slump to score 27 points, but Derrick Dowell, who was averaging 17.7 points and 9.9 rebounds, had only seven points and seven rebounds.

Dowell was one of several Trojans hit by the flu this week. He also reportedly twisted his left ankle in practice Wednesday.

“Derrick really hit the wall tonight,” coach Stan Morrison said. “He had a 103 degree temperature. (Larry) Friend and (Kevin) Steward also had a touch of the flu, but Dowell had it real bad. We had some very tired kids. Derrick was so tired he couldn’t even sweat.

“I’m really concerned about him for Saturday’s game.”

Morrison said that he thought his team played a strong game under the conditions, rallying from an eight-point deficit early in the second half to build a five-point lead that then disappeared as quickly as it had come.

The Cougars’ eventual win was their first over USC in Los Angeles since 1980, which was also the last time they swept a conference series from the Trojans.

The Cougars shot 46%, with forward Joe Wallace scoring 18 and guard Keith Morrison 16.

Wallace’s two free throws with 12 seconds left in overtime insured the victory. Chris Winkler converted the other critical one-and-one opportunities with 52 and 21 seconds remaining, respectively.

The Trojans had led, 65-63, with 40 seconds left in regulation when Morrison intercepted a rainbow pass from Dowell and fed Wallace for a tying basket.

Lewis then hit a six-foot jumper to give USC a 67-65 lead with 21 seconds left, but the Cougars got off jump shots by Wallace and Brian Quinnett in the final seconds, with Todd Anderson hitting a follow of Quinnett’s to tie it just before the buzzer, the 10th and last tie of the second half.

“I thought there was a push off underneath,” Morrison said of Anderson’s basket, “but I don’t know. We didn’t block off the weakside, and he (Anderson) did his job.”

Anderson’s eight-foot jumper and two free throws by Quinnett at the outset of overtime provided the Cougars with a lead they did not relinquish.

There were bright spots for the Trojans.

Hank Gathers, the freshman forward from Philadelphia, had 14 points and 14 rebounds in what may have been his most impressive performance. Rod Keller, the junior center, had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Lewis kept the Trojans alive with 14 points in the first half and finished 10 for 24 from the floor and 7 for 7 at the line.

Said Len Stevens, the Washington State coach:

“There’s no doubt that Tom is going to be a great, great player. He’s impossible to guard. When he matures and gets stronger, when he learns how to read the defense, he’s going to be unstoppable. I mean, he’s just going to get better and better.”