Pack Scores 26 Points as USC Routs Finland

Guard Robert Pack was the best barometer of USC’s basketball team last season. When Pack scored 15 or more points, the Trojans were 8-1.

And after Tuesday night’s exhibition game against Finland, the Trojans are hoping the improved Pack is the best indicator this season, too.

Pack scored 26 points in 26 minutes as the Trojans routed Finland, 100-45, before 723 fans at the Lyon Center on the USC campus. Finland is 2-3 on a trip that ends tonight at Fresno State.

USC led, 54-18, at halftime, and would have won by nine points if it didn’t score in the second half.

Pack made 12 of 13 shots, including two three-pointers, and he had five assists and three rebounds.

“I’ve said all along that Robert is the key to our whole season,” USC Coach George Raveling said. “If we’re going to realize the expectations that people have shouldered on us, I think Robert is going to be the key.”

Guard Harold Miner, the Pac-10 freshman of the year, made only seven of 17 shots from the field, missing five of six three-pointers and had 18 points.

“If I had my druthers, and I don’t mean this to put Finland down, I would probably rather have played the Russians and lost by 15 than won, 100-45, and not come away with a lot of answers,” Raveling said.

The Trojans open their regular season Nov. 24 against Chicago State at the Sports Arena.