Surging Trojans Polish Off Cardinal, 71-62 : USC: Raveling provides the motivation and guards Miner and Pack provide the points for second consecutive Pac-10 victory.

A master motivator, USC Coach George Raveling pulled out all the tricks before Thursday night’s game against Stanford.

When the Trojans arrived in the locker room at the Sports Arena, Raveling passed out T-shirts that read: “Beat Stanford and Cal.” The players wore them under their uniforms.

Raveling’s psychological ploy worked as the Trojans beat Stanford for the first time in 14 games, 71-62, before 2,257. The Trojans have won three of four Pacific 10 Conference games for the first time in three seasons. It was USC’s second consecutive league victory.

Raveling also posted signs in the dressing room that read: “It’s a brand new USC” and “Nothing will stop us.”

“I think it (the T-shirts and signs) help us stay focused on the mission at hand,” Raveling said.

Guard Rodney Chatman said the T-shirts and signs inspired the Trojans.

“When he puts the signs up, it seems like everybody gets hyped,” Chatman said.

Guard Harold Miner was hyped, scoring 34 points, including 19 in the second half. Miner sank eight of 15 shots. It was the third time Miner has scored 30 or more points this season.

“We’re all running out of superlatives about Miner,” Raveling said. “At about the 14-minute mark of the second half, it was obvious that we needed to go to him every time down the court because I thought he had the feel. There’s some nights when a guy’s just got the feel and you know if they get it up it’s going in and tonight was one of those nights for him.”

But point guard Robert Pack might have been the key to the victory for USC (9-11, 4-9 in the Pac-10), scoring 20 points and passing off for four assists.

“Pack is probably the catalyst who’s allowed us to play games in a more comfortable manner,” Raveling said. “He’s been so much more aggressive offensively. One of Robert’s problem’s early on was that he’d make a mistake and he’d become depressed as a result. Instead of him being a leader he became an introvert. Now we’ve been trying to get him to understand that regardless of what happens he’s still got to lead. And I told him the other day that one of the most important things about a leader is that every now and then you’ve got to look back and make sure someone’s following you.”

Pack said he’s playing with more confidence now.

“My confidence is up now from where it was earlier this season when I was in a slump,” Pack said. “Now I’m just playing my game and looking to do what I do best, which is to run the team.”

Stanford Coach Mike Montgomery said his team couldn’t contain the Trojan backcourt.

“We couldn’t control their guards,” Montgomery said. “Pack was penetrating and Miner was unstoppable.”

The Trojan front line didn’t fare as well.

Center Chris Munk had no points and three rebounds and forward Ronnie Coleman had three points and seven rebounds.

Center Adam Keefe had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Stanford. It was his 10th double-double of the season.

“We had a most difficult time guarding Keefe,” Raveling said. “But great players are difficult to defend. They had as much problem guarding Miner as we did guarding Keefe.”

Trailing by two points at halftime, USC outscored Stanford, 30-12, to take a 15-point lead.

It was left to freshman forward Keith Greeley put an exclamation mark on the victory.

Knocked to the court by Stanford forward Andrew Vlahov as he drove into the lane for a reverse layin, Greeley still fired up a shot. As Greeley hit the floor, the ball went into the basket. Greeley pumped his fist in the air and Raveling threw his towel into the air in celebration.

“It was all luck,” Greeley said. “I don’t practice stuff like that.”

Trojan Notes

USC plays Cal Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Sports Arena. . . . The Trojans are 7-4 at home. It’s the most home games the Trojans have won since collecting eight victories in 1986.