Another Loss for Trojans

Geno Carlisle scored the go-ahead basket with 2:19 left and California withstood a flurry of three-point shots in the final seconds to defeat USC, 58-55, on Thursday night at New Arena.

Carlisle had 13 points to lead California, which is 13-8 overall and 4-7 in the Pacific 10.

Jeff Trepagnier had 14 points as the only player to score in double figures for USC (11-10, 3-9). The Trojans, losing for the eighth time in nine games, played without fourth-leading scorer Adam Spanich, who was suspended one game for violating an unspecified team rule.

USC went ahead 52-50 with 5:25 remaining when Elias Ayuso finished a fastbreak with a layup.

California regained the lead for good at 54-53 when Carlisle made a 17-foot jumper and Sean Lampley’s layup gave the Golden Bears a three-point lead.

A layup by Trepagnier cut California’s lead to one, but Carl Boyd, after USC Coach Henry Bibby called a timeout, made both ends of a one-and-one with 29.4 seconds left.

Ayuso missed three-point shots three times in the final 13 seconds.

“We just didn’t have the offense to make things happen,” said Bibby, whose team shot 34% (20 for 59).