USC 84, Long Beach State 55--Identical twins...

USC 84, Long Beach State 55--Identical twins Kim and Kristin Clark had combined career highs in minutes played and points and led the Trojans to a season-opening victory at the Sports Arena.

Kim, only a week and a half removed from the USC soccer team, averaged only 8 1/2 minutes for the basketball team last season, while Kristin played 32 a game.

But after watching the two 5-foot-6 guards lead the surge that blew out Long Beach State in the second half, first-year Coach Chris Gobrecht indicated a lot of Trojan opponents will be double-Clarked this season.

“I like those two; they play my kind of game,” Gobrecht said.

Kristin had 15 points and six assists in 31 minutes.

She didn’t shoot well, however, showing the effects of a broken nose caused when her sister accidentally elbowed her in practice. She went four for 14, missing all four of her three-point shots.

Kim had 12 points in 21 minutes.

“I loved it,” Kristin said, referring to their minutes on the floor together. “That’s the most we’ve played together since high school.”

Long Beach State (2-1) was never in it. USC had a 12-4 lead in seven minutes and was ahead, 43-24, at the half.