Miner’s Record Speaks for Itself : College basketball: He becomes USC’s all-time scoring leader in 75-62 victory over Washington State, then suffers lacerated tongue.

Harold Miner became USC’s all-time scoring leader Thursday night in the Trojans’ 75-62 victory over Washington State at the Sports Arena, but had difficulty talking about it afterward.

Miner, who scored 23 points to pass previous Trojan scoring leader Ronnie Coleman, was unable to discuss the record with reporters because he suffered a lacerated tongue that required two stitches.

Miner had been elbowed in the mouth by Washington State reserve center Tommie Oatis as they went for a rebound with 13 minutes left in the game. He fell to the court in agony and had to be helped to the locker room. Miner had difficulty talking after the game, relaying his quotes to reporters through a USC publicist.

“I was set on the foul line and a Washington State player (Oatis) elbowed me across the jaw, and I bit down on my tongue,” Miner said. “That was it.”

It was the second time that Miner, who sticks out his tongue as he plays (as does Michael Jordan), has lacerated his tongue. He took four stitches there after he was hit in practice as a freshman.

Although USC Coach George Raveling drew a technical for shouting at Oatis, who wasn’t called for a foul, Raveling said he didn’t think it was intentional.

“Anytime you lose your best player, you’re not going to be acting like you just finished an Emily Post course on etiquette,” Raveling said.

However, USC guard Dwayne Hackett thought it was deliberate.

“I think he tried to do it on purpose,” Hackett said. “It wasn’t like a short box out, it was like a full swing. I was surprised they didn’t call a foul. It was a cheap shot that they missed.”

Miner needed eight points to surpass Coleman, who scored 1,727 points from 1988-91. He seemed intent on getting the record quickly, hitting his first four shots.

After dunking off a pass from Phil Glenn, Miner then sank a 10-foot baseline jumper and a five-foot runner.

Miner, a creative dunk artist, fittingly broke the record on a dunk off a pass from guard Duane Cooper with 14:07 remaining in the first half. The game was stopped briefly and Miner was presented with the ball.

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The 16th-ranked Trojans (15-3, 7-1), who upset UCLA last week without a major contribution from Miner in the first half, didn’t seem to miss Miner after he went out of the game in the second. They led by as many as 31 points in recording their seventh victory in a row and remaining tied with UCLA for the Pacific 10 lead.

“I think we’re putting to rest this idea that we can’t win without Harold,” Raveling said. “When he’s out of the game, we’ve been able to maintain our poise and still play quality basketball.”

Washington State (16-5, 4-4) shot a season-low 36.2% in having its winning streak ended at four games.

Trojan Notes

Harold Miner has 1,743 points. He is considered a possible participant for Saturday’s game against Washington. . . . Center Yamen Sanders had nine points and a season-high 14 rebounds, Duane Cooper had 14 points and six assists and reserve forward Lorenzo Orr had a personal-best 12 points.