Trojans Look Trim in Victory

Mired in a six-game losing streak, stuck at the bottom of the Pacific 10 Conference, USC was willing to do anything for a win.

That explains the cluster of shiny heads that trotted onto the Sports Arena floor Thursday night, the players having shaved their hair off in a show of togetherness, if not desperation.

“It’s not about looks,” guard Elias Ayuso said. “It’s about unity.”

It’s also about winning, which the Trojans managed to do for the first time in almost a month, trouncing Oregon State, 86-61, before a small but boisterous crowd of 2,580.

“A lot of people thought we’d given up,” forward Jarvis Turner said. “We wanted to let everyone know we hadn’t.”

This was a victory of style and substance. The Trojans shot 47.6% from the field, and almost 40% from three-point range, against the third-best defense in the nation. At the other end of the court, they had 11 steals and forced the Beavers into 17 turnovers.

Even more important, they held Oregon State guard Deaundra Tanner to 12 hard-earned points. Last month in Corvallis, Tanner scored 27 points, including 10 in overtime, to lift his team to a 69-66 victory. USC Coach Henry Bibby said that stopping him this time was like cutting the head off the monster.

“We wanted to make him work harder,” Bibby said. “We wanted to keep the ball out of his hands.”

In doing so, USC improved its record to 11-8, 3-7 in Pac-10 play. Oregon State fell to 11-8, 5-5.

The Beavers have been the Jekyll-and-Hyde team of the conference, unbeaten at home, winless on the road. But through it all, they have played enough defense to limit opponents to 36.5% shooting.

The best way for USC to attack that defense, early on, was to stay away from it. The Trojans shot from long range and opened a 21-12 lead on the strength of three-point baskets by Ayuso, Adam Spanich and Brandon Granville.

“USC beat us to the punch,” Oregon State Coach Eddie Payne said. “They have more aggressive run-to-the-ball type of players.”

The Trojans raced to a 40-29 lead at halftime, then turned up the defensive heat to turn the game into a blowout. They started the second half with a 15-5 run built on deflections, steals and fastbreaks.

Ayuso did most of the damage on offense, making five of nine three-pointers on his way to a game-high 21 points. Spanich finished with 10 points. Center Brian Scalabrine added 19 points and six rebounds.

Oregon State had only three players in double figures, led by Tanner.

“Coach told us to come out and play like we were down by 20 points,” Granville said. “We needed a big win, not just a win, to get our confidence back up.”

They got that win and, afterward, Turner had a hair-raising story to tell. The junior said he and assistant coach Dave Miller hatched a plan earlier this week, deciding that a hairless team might make for a better team.

“Whatever it takes to win,” Turner said. “Whatever it takes.”