Players Happy to Lose Streak

Trojan players felt as if a weight was lifted from their shoulders when they beat Oregon State on Thursday, ending a six-game losing streak that dated to Jan. 7.

“Coach did a good job of keeping our confidence up,” freshman Brandon Granville said. “But those were a long few weeks.”

The locker room was loud and full of smiles after the game. Coach Henry Bibby sounded especially optimistic.

“This is the second half of the Pac-10 season,” Bibby said. “We’re approaching it as if it’s a new season for us.”

Now Oregon comes to the Sports Arena, bringing a team that has struggled through a disappointing season but has shown an ability to rebound with 7-foot center Mike Carson and score with juniors Alex Scales and A.D. Smith, averaging about 13 points each.

Tonight’s game also features two of the best three-point shooting teams in the conference. So USC guard Elias Ayuso does not want his teammates feeling too happy.

“Oregon State is gone and behind us,” Ayuso said. “We can’t celebrate anymore. We have to take care of Oregon.”

Coming up: Thursday at California, Saturday at Stanford.

Tonight

vs. Oregon, 7:30

Fox Sports West 2

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Records--Trojans 11-8, 3-7; Ducks 10-9, 2-8.

* Update--The Ducks took sole possession of last place in the Pac-10 with a last-second loss at UCLA on Thursday. It was not their first heartbreak of the season: They lost to USC on a half-court shot by Adam Spanich in Eugene last month.

* Tickets--(213) 740-GOSC.