Longshot Oregon Guns Down USC

USC should have seen it coming, but the Trojans walked into the same one-two-three punch the Bruins did Thursday night.

Against the Bruins, Oregon made six of seven three-point baskets during a second-half stretch to pull off the upset, but needed only four in a row to score a knockout against USC in a 73-61 victory before 8,882 at McArthur Court on Saturday afternoon.

On a day when the Trojans needed a scorer and leader late in the game, USC announced that senior guard Ken Sims was suspended indefinitely from the team for a violation of team rules.

Sources said that Sims, a reserve who averaged 12 minutes a game, was suspended for complaining about his lack of playing time and insulting the coaches as the team drove to its hotel Thursday night after the Oregon State game.

USC Coach Henry Bibby declined comment. The Trojans also were without senior forward Anthony White for the second half after White was accidentally struck in the face on the last play of the first half and did not return. White said he will have his nose X-rayed on Monday.

The Trojans could have used every player possible against Oregon guard Mike McShane, who made three of the Ducks’ four consecutive three-point shots during a 20-4 run that broke USC’s back. McShane was wide open on two of the shots.

In Thursday’s game, the Ducks made a season-high 12 three-point baskets and McShane scored a season-high 15 points. Against the Trojans, the 6-foot-4 McShane finished with 13 points and three assists.

“McShane had a lot of confidence after UCLA,” Bibby said. “We went into the game not as concerned about him as Terik Brown [who scored 10 points]. We just didn’t match up well with Oregon’s outside shooters in the final four minutes of the game.”

The Trojans went scoreless during the Ducks’ three-point barrage and trailed, 59-49, when it was over.

Oregon, 10-10 overall and 5-6 in the Pacific 10, had five players score in double figures, including three reserves. A.D. Smith, led the Ducks with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Trojans (7-14, 3-8) were led by sophomore forward Jarvis Turner and senior guard Gary Johnson, each with 11.

The Ducks blanketed USC’s three-point specialist, junior forward Adam Spanich. Spanich finished with six points on one-for-eight shooting.

“A burst like that killed the momentum we had on defense and we also couldn’t match the points on our end of the court,” Bibby said.