Raveling Calls In Sick, Trojans Offer No Cure

After opening the season with four blowout victories against four patsies, USC’s men basketball team played the first respectable team on its schedule--Cal State Long Beach.

And the 49ers, winless in their first three games, handed the Trojans their first loss of the season, 82-81, Monday night at the Long Beach Arena.

The Trojans, playing without Coach George Raveling, who had the flu and an abscessed tooth, came apart in the second half.

Assistant coach Brian Hammel ran the team in Raveling’s absence. Hammel coached the Trojans this summer when they went 7-2 during a Brazilian tour.

“He (Raveling) didn’t feel good at yesterday’s shootaround and he didn’t come to work this morning because he had an abscessed tooth,” Hammel said. “He called me around noon and said he might not make it. We’ve been in this situation before when we were at Iowa (where Hammel assisted Raveling). We were playing Illinois, and George was deathly sick.”

Trailing 82-78 after 49er guard Darrell Faulkner hit 2 free throws with 12 seconds remaining, USC guard Anthony Pendleton sank a 3-point shot to bring the Trojans to within 1 with 5 seconds remaining.

The 49ers turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds play when center John Hatten, under pressure from Trojan center Chris Munk, couldn’t put the ball in play within 5 seconds.

The Trojans called a time out to set up a play for forward Ronnie Coleman. Guard Rich Grande inbounded the ball to Coleman, who shot an airball from about 13 feet away.

“We got the shot that we wanted, but we just couldn’t put it in,” Hammel said. “I’m proud of the kids for the way they fought back.”

So Cal State Long Beach, which beat the Trojans by 19 points last season, has two straight victories over USC.

Bobby Sears, a 6-foot 2-inch freshman guard from Inglewood, led the 49ers, scoring 16 points off the bench.

“It’s like a dream come true for me to play well in my home debut and to be interviewed on TV,” Sears said.

Said 49er Coach Joe Harrington: “It’s hard to pick out one person, but if I had to pick out one guy it would be Bobby Sears. He was excellent tonight playing against a team from his neighborhood.”

Forward Rudy Harvey, guard Brian Jones and Faulkner each had 14 points for Cal State Long Beach.