Trying to Avert Last Place, USC Takes On Arizona St.

USC’s basketball team gets back into its own relative class of competition today when it plays Arizona State in a 3 p.m. game (Channel 2) at the Sports Arena.

The Trojans were outclassed Thursday night in losing to No. 3-ranked Arizona, 103-68.

USC, 5-17 overall and 3-10 in the Pacific 10 Conference, is trying to avert a last-place finish.

Arizona State (13-11, 6-8) almost upset UCLA Thursday night before losing, 79-73, at Pauley Pavilion.

The Trojans squandered an 18-point, first-half lead when they played the Sun Devils last month in Tempe, Ariz., eventually losing, 78-74.

Guard Arthur Thomas led ASU with 19 points in that game and has always proved troublesome for the Trojans. However, he’s now coming off the bench as Coach Steve Patterson has revised his starting lineup.

Forward Eric Holloway, who was left home because of a strep throat, may rejoin the team for today’s game.

Perhaps, there’s some merit to USC finishing in 10th place in the Pac-10. The Trojans would meet the seventh-place team in the opening round of the season-ending conference tournament at Tucson, with the winner of that game meeting the second-place team. That bracketing would prevent USC from encountering Arizona again.

The Wildcats have already clinched a tie for the conference championship.