Another Small Crowd, Easy Victory : 1,417 Watch USC Run Record to 4-0 by Beating USIU

Could it be that USC’s undefeated basketball team is Los Angeles’ best-kept secret?

The Trojans (4-0), off to their best start in 9 years after a record-setting 97-61 victory over United States International University, are continuing to win big but draw poorly at the Sports Arena.

After 875 fans watched USC defeat Howard University on Saturday, there were 1,244 for Monday night’s 20-point victory over Portland. And only 1,417 showed up Tuesday night.

“We’re used to it (small crowd),” said guard Anthony Pendleton, who scored a team-high 25 points against USIU. “Last year no one ever came to our games. If we start beating bigger teams we’ll get big crowds.”

USC Coach George Raveling, who is trying to rebuild a team that has finished last for 3 straight seasons in the Pacific 10 Conference, is more concerned with winning than filling seats.

“No it’s not disconcerting playing in front of a small crowd,” Raveling said. “We can’t allow the fringe element of USC athletics to affect what we’re trying to do. Those are things that are good for the newspapers, TV and the bars.

“One thing Los Angeles has proved is that it’s a front-runner town. The onus is on us to continue to get better. If we get better people will come as a curiosity.”

Three of USC’s first four opponents--Howard, Portland and USIU--are not what you call basketball powerhouses.

But Raveling is trying to instill confidence in his team, which set a school record by losing 21 games last season.

“I’m realistic enough to know that we didn’t beat Louisville, Georgetown or North Carolina,” Raveling said. “We’re trying to build our self-esteem. There have been times when we felt like we were abandoned.

“It’s all new to us, being ahead by 20 points. It’s all new to us to play 4 games in 5 days. It’s all new to us to win 4 games in a row. And sometimes it’s like a guy that hits the lottery and gets $80,000, you don’t always know what to do with it. You don’t always act the way you should act.”

The Gulls (2-1) were coming off a 112-76 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore, but they couldn’t handle the Trojans.

“Does anybody have Maryland-Eastern Shores’ phone number?” Raveling asked, joking.

USC’s 97 points were the most scored by a Trojan team since the 1981-82 season, when they beat Oregon, 107-91. The 36-point winning margin was their biggest since a 99-58 victory over Doane in 1980-81.

USC also had some individual standouts.

Forward Chris Moore tied his career high with 24 points, center Chris Munk had a career-high 17 rebounds and reserve forward Calvin Banks had a career-high 12 points.

USC didn’t let up against USIU. In fact, Raveling reinserted his starters with a 31-point lead with 2:59 left.

“I told them (the reserves) that if they didn’t play well I was going to put the starters back in,” Raveling said.