USC Barely Holds On for Victory : Its 21-Point Lead Against Arizona St. Suddenly Evaporates

There is, apparently, no such thing as a safe lead with the USC basketball team.

Perhaps it’s because the Trojans aren’t accustomed to being on the long end of a score this season.

Anyway, USC had a 21-point lead over Arizona State early in the second half of Saturday’s game at the Sports Arena, then survived a frantic ASU rally to win, 74-70.

In a previous meeting with Arizona State last month in Tempe, Ariz., USC squandered an 18-point first-half lead, eventually losing, 78-74.

It wasn’t a textbook game Saturday as the Sun Devils committed 24 turnovers to the Trojans’ 22. However, it was exciting in a frenzied fashion.

By winning, USC snapped a four-game losing streak and improved its record to 6-17 overall, 4-10 in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Arizona State has lost five straight and is 13-12 this season, 6-9 in the Pac-10.

The Trojans went on a 16-2 run, forcing turnovers with their press at the outset of the second half and were apparently in command, 50-29, with 15:40 remaining. But Arizona State came back, mainly on the three-point shooting of guard Terence Wheeler, who scored all of his 19 points in the second half.

However, USC point guard Dave Wiltz kept his cool while the Sun Devils were charging and made 8 of 10 free throws in the last 5:49.

The Sun Devils closed to 69-67 with 1:45 left on Wheeler’s three-point shot from the baseline. Wiltz then made two foul shots before the teams engaged in a flurry of missed shots.

ASU’s Joey Johnson missed on a slam attempt, and USC guard Duane Cooper wasn’t able to score on a layup. Then, three Sun Devils--Wheeler, Mark Carlino and Arthur Thomas--all missed shots before Wiltz made one of two foul shots with 29 seconds to play.

The Trojans had apparently halted ASU’s comeback, but there was still too much time remaining.

USC freshman forward Ronnie Coleman, who had a game-high 20 points, was then tied on a held-ball situation, and ASU had another opportunity on the alternating possession rule.

Wheeler, a sophomore from Detroit, then made his fourth three-point basket in seven attempts with 12 seconds left.

After a timeout, USC center Chris Munk darted back and forth behind the end line before he passed to Wiltz, who lobbed the ball to Chris Moore. The USC forward then made a clinching layup with three seconds to play.

“Before the game, I told our team I wanted them to play hard, have fun and don’t worry about mistakes,” USC Coach George Raveling said. “Part of our problem is that we are too concerned with our mistakes.”

“We had a little lull in our offense (when ASU rallied), and Munk and (Andy) Olivarez got into foul trouble, which hurt our continuity. We also got too conservative on offense. And Wheeler put on a show.”

Raveling said he tried to recruit Wheeler when he was coaching at Iowa three years ago.

The coach said that Coleman continues to amaze him, adding that the freshman forward has come into his own.

Coleman has led USC in scoring three of the past four games. He was supported by Olivarez, who had 14 points and Moore with 12. Olivarez is apparently USC’s designated three-point shooter, converting 4 of 12 in the first half.

Thomas, Arizona State’s 5-9 guard, has proved troublesome to USC in the past. However, he played only 23 minutes Saturday while coming off the bench. He finished with nine points while committing four turnovers.

ASU Coach Steve Patterson is reportedly concerned about Thomas’ attitude, which is reflected in less playing time.

But Raveling didn’t want to see him on the floor in the second half.

“We would have probably been better off not pressing at the start of the second half because, by doing so, it forced Thomas back into the game,” Raveling said. “I’d rather have him on the bench.”

An announced crowd of 2,043 watched the game, which was televised by Channel 2. Even if it was ragged, it did have its entertaining moments.

The Trojans led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but settled for a 34-27 lead at halftime. And Moore and reserve forward Bob Erbst contributed offensively in the 16-2 surge at the start of the second half as the Sun Devils were throwing the ball away.

But Arizona State had a run of its own coming.

“It’s not out of the realm of possibility that we can win our last four (games),” Raveling said.

But the Trojans will have to do a better job of protecting a lead if Raveling expects his team to finish the season in a winning fashion.