Trojans Struggle but Win This One

For the second time in three weeks, USC followed a surprisingly spirited performance against a top-25 team by fumbling and bumbling its way around the court against a less-talented opponent.

Last month, the Trojans played then-No. 2 Kansas close, only to get bullied by Long Beach State four days later, a game USC should have won.

After outplaying No. 5 Arizona for more than a half Monday, USC scored the fewest points it has all season against Oregon and turned the ball over repeatedly in the first half. But the Trojans pulled it together in the second half at the Sports Arena to defeat the Ducks, 63-59, and end a losing streak at seven games before 2,240.

“It was the ugliest game I’ve ever been involved with in my life,” USC Coach Henry Bibby said.

Anthony White’s layup with 33 seconds left gave USC a 61-59 lead, and Gary Williams made a free throw with 12 seconds left to give the Trojans, 5-8 overall and 1-2 in the Pacific 10, a three-point lead.

Freshman Kevin Augustine then blocked Terik Brown’s three-point shot with three seconds left. Williams, after retrieving the ball and getting fouled, sealed the victory with a free throw.

“I saw that Brown had a great look,” said the 6-foot Augustine, whose vertical leap is 46 inches. “He’s a great shooter and when great shooters have a good look at the basket they usually knock their shots down. I just wanted to distract him but I wasn’t surprised when I got a piece of it.”

The victory doesn’t hide the fact that the Trojans are underachieving against lesser opponents. Against top-25 teams, USC plays likes its opponent, attacking the ball on defense and patiently setting up shots. Against other teams, the Trojans look bored and glassy-eyed, like a group of guys waiting for a bus.

“We are playing to the level of our opponents,” Augustine said. “I don’t what we are going to do to break out. I only know that we have to start playing at our best against every opponent.”

After taking an 18-9 lead, the Trojans turned the ball over 13 times and the Ducks (6-6, 1-2) capitalized by going on a 21-5 run that helped them take a 30-23 halftime time. USC had nine turnovers during a scoreless nine-minute stretch.

The Ducks led at halftime, 30-23.

In the second half, the Trojans went on a 19-3 run that included three consecutive three-point baskets and led, 55-47, with less than five minutes remaining. The Ducks came back to tie the score, 57-57, with 2:57 left.

Oregon, usually a good three-point shooting team, missed 13 of 16 from behind the arc. Adam Spanich, USC’s long-range specialist and the team’s second-leading scorer, scored a team-high 15 points but missed seven of 10 three-point shots.