Trojans Decide to Press the Issue

This was how the other side lived a year ago and Coach Henry Bibby seemed to like the neighborhood.

USC, everyone’s patsy for the nine games Bibby served as interim coach last season, got to play the tough guy Sunday. In beating UC Irvine, 107-45, at the Bren Center, the Trojans devoured a team loaded with walk-ons and freshmen.

It wasn’t a pretty sight, as the Trojans (4-1) pressed throughout the second half. They came away with the second-largest victory in school history and little remorse.

“We lost nine games in a row last season and there wasn’t anyone who showed us any mercy,” Coach Henry Bibby said. “Everyone came to beat us. When we get a game like this, it’s a taste of honey. It’s sweet.”

The Trojans lapped it up.

Coming off two tough games in North Carolina and heading back south again Wednesday to play Tennessee, USC was in need of a rest area. Irvine (0-5), off to the worst in the program’s history, was the perfect stopover.

“We wanted to come in and make a statement and get on them early,” forward Rodrick Rhodes said.

That didn’t take long.

A layup and free throw by Lamarr Parker gave the Anteaters a 10-8 lead with 14:39 left in the first half. They then turned the ball over on their next four possessions. It was all a blur for Irvine from that point.

An 8-0 Trojan run turned into a 26-4 run that turned into a 45-7 run that turned into a 51-13 run to close the half. At one point, Irvine went nine minutes without a field goal.

Guard Danny Walker, who finished with 18 points, made all three of his shots in the first half. All were three-pointers. USC made 20 of 26 shots in the half and 41 of 64 overall, the first time the Trojans have shot better than 50% this season.

By halftime, USC led, 59-23, and was not about to let up. The Trojan press in the second half buried the Anteaters.

“You can’t coach another guy’s team,” Irvine Coach Rod Baker said. “They pressed us. . . .”

Baker, who suffered the worst defeat in his six seasons at Irvine, paused and changed direction.

“It didn’t have any effect on the outcome,” he said. “I don’t think I would do it that way. But that’s neither here nor there.”

Bibby said it was more his team’s style than overkill.

“That’s the way we play every game,” Bibby said. “We are preparing for the Pac-10 [Conference]. We have to play our own game.”

That game was sharp.

USC had a 46-19 edge in rebounding. Jaha Wilson, who scored 18 points, had a team-high 11 rebounds. David Crouse had nine.

The Trojans forced 30 turnovers. They made nine of 15 three-point tries.

“We were beating them pretty bad,” said guard Stais Boseman, who did not start because he was late for a team meeting Saturday. “Not to take anything away from UC Irvine, but they are not North Carolina.”

Only Rhodes seemed to have empathy.

“It’s really unfortunate for Coach Baker,” said Rhodes, who had 12 points and seven assists. “He just doesn’t have the horses.”

The Anteaters started walk-on Anthony Delacruz at forward in place of Brian Johnson, who is out because of a sprained toe. They also used walk-on Juan Toscanini. Freshman Juma Jackson started and freshman Andrew Carlson played 21 minutes.

Jackson, the team’s third-leading scorer, had a team-high 13 points, but made five of 17 shots. He hit the bottom of the backboard on one layup attempt. Senior forward Paul Foster air-balled on a layup.

Center Dan Augulis played in his first game after missing the first four because of a knee injury. In his first 30 seconds, Augulis had a turnover, a missed shot and stood flat-footed nearby while Crouse caught a pass and dunked.

The Anteaters shot 32%.

“There were not many positives,” Baker said.

There were for Bibby.

“I wish we could play like this every day,” Bibby said.