Three-Guard Attack Carries USC Again : Trojans: They beat San Diego State, 77-66, for second consecutive victory. But a difficult two-game trip awaits.

USC basketball Coach George Raveling said the Trojans’ five-game nonconference stretch against Maryland, Miami, San Diego State, Colorado State and Notre Dame would be a good barometer for his team, which hopes to make the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 1985.

After collapsing in the final 12 1/2 minutes of a 72-59 loss at Maryland last week, the Trojans have won two in a row, beating Miami by 21 points Saturday and defeating the Aztecs, 77-66, Tuesday night at the Sports Arena.

“Maybe we found ourselves a team,” Raveling said. “I don’t know how I could ask them to play harder than they played tonight. I thought defensively, we played really well, particularly on their guards.”

Now comes the tough part, traveling to Ft. Collins, Colo., for Saturday’s game at Colorado State and South Bend, Ind., to play the Irish next Wednesday.

Those two games will certainly provide better tests for the Trojans (3-1) than winless San Diego State (0-3), which scored only four points in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the second half. The Aztecs trailed by 19 points before Raveling let his reserves take over.

Forward Ronnie Coleman had 19 points, including 15 in the second half, and matched his personal high of 15 rebounds. Guard Robert Pack had 16 points, and guard Harold Miner added 14.

Starting his second consecutive game in USC’s three-guard offense, guard Duane Cooper had eight points, a career-high eight assists and six rebounds.

“I thought Duane Cooper played as fine a game as I could ask him to play,” Raveling said. “He played so intelligently, and he played really hard defensively.”

Forward Courtie Miller and center Marty Dow led San Diego State with 11 points each. Dow missed 14 of 17 shots as the Aztecs shot only 34.6%.

The Trojans, who led by two points at halftime, broke the game open with a 17-4 run in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the second half.

“I’d like to tell you that we made some magical adjustment at halftime, but we just got off to a better start than they did,” Raveling said.

Pack had six points in the Trojans’ spurt, including a rare four-point play. Pack made a lay-in and was intentionally fouled by Dow, which resulted in two free throws. Pack made both and the Trojans retained possession.

After sitting out USC’s first three games because of a sprained ankle, center Yamen Sanders made his first appearance of the season. A junior transfer from Central Michigan, Sanders had five points in the first half as the Trojans took a 33-31 lead.