Ayuso Is a Hotshot Again for Trojans

USC basketball Coach Henry Bibby said he had been looking to his returning players for more offensive production, and he got his wish Tuesday night in the Trojans’ home opener.

Senior guard Elias Ayuso took command of the game in the first half by scoring from long range, passing to open teammates for easy baskets, and driving to the basket, scoring 18 points in the Trojans’ 90-76 victory over UC Santa Barbara before about 2,400 at the Sports Arena.

Ayuso, a native of Puerto Rico where his outside shooting earned him the nickname “The Rifle,” started 21 games and led the Trojans last season in three-point shots.

But this season he had been unable to find his range until he went three of seven on three-pointers and seven of 13 overall.

Bibby said Monday that he was disappointed with Ayuso’s play this season (he was 12 of 36 from the field before Tuesday) and didn’t try to mask how he would motivate Ayuso to improve.

“If he doesn’t start improving, he’ll learn from the bench,” Bibby said. “The bench is a great teacher.”

USC and UC Santa Barbara began the game in stops and starts, missing their outside shots and turning the ball over.

The Trojans (3-1) even missed another a wide-open dunk for the third time in four games. The first two times, freshmen Greg Lakey botched easy baskets against New Mexico and Sacramento State, but Tuesday, one of the older guys, senior Ken Sims, couldn’t throw down an easy dunk on a breakaway with not a Gaucho near him.

The game was decided when the Trojan guards dominated UC Santa Barbara’s backcourt. With USC leading, 18-15, and 10:22 left in the first half, Ayuso highlighted a 23-4 run by scoring 14 points during the streak and the Trojans went into the half leading, 41-23.

While UC Santa Barbara was getting called for double-dribbling or traveling five times in the first half, Ayuso and senior point guard Gary Johnson were picking the pockets of Leslie Bean and Raymond Tutt.

Johnson had three steals and four assists and scored eight points while the Gauchos had 14 turnovers in the half.

USC, which led by as much as 24 points midway through the second half, survived a small scare when UC Santa Barbara (1-1) made two runs on the Trojans.

Freshman Mike Vukovich, from Santa Ana Mater Dei, made two free throws with 2:35 remaining to close it to 77-67.

Led by Tutt and Dwayne Williams, who both scored 14 points, the Gauchos got back into the game when USC began returning UC Santa Barbara’s first-half favor by turning over the ball. USC committed 14 turnovers in the second half, giving the Trojans 20 in all.

But USC held off the Gauchos’ rally when Johnson found junior Adam Spanich on a fastbreak and Spanich scored the easy layup with 1:09 left.

Senior forward Gary Williams, who finished with 19 points, made a layup and a three-point play to give the Trojans an 87-76 lead with 36 seconds to go and seal the victory.