Scalabrine Sits as Others Step Up

Center Brian Scalabrine, USC’s leading scorer, played 21 minutes and scored eight points in the upset win over Washington on Thursday night. That’s 11 minutes and seven points fewer than his season average.

It wasn’t injury or foul trouble that kept Scalabrine on the bench, it was the play of reserve forwards David Bluthenthal and Greg Lakey. Lakey finished with eight points, three rebounds and a blocked shot.

“That’s why I didn’t go back with Brian,” Coach Henry Bibby said. “The other guys were really playing well.”

Reserve guard Quincy Wilder also put in quality time, finishing with five points, three rebounds and two steals on a night when backcourt mates Elias Ayuso and Adam Spanich combined for only nine points.

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USC has focused its defensive effort on opposing guards the last few games. Now Washington State comes to the Sports Arena with three-point specialist Jan-Michael Thomas. Thomas made only one of nine long-range shots against UCLA on Thursday, but the Trojans haven’t forgotten that he scored 21 points against them at Pullman last month.

“You have to be aware of all those guys who shoot the basketball,” Bibby said.

Coming up: Thursday at Arizona, March 6 at Arizona State.

TONIGHT vs. Washington St., 5

Fox Sports West 2

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Records--Cougars 10-17, 4-12; Trojans 13-11, 5-10.

* Update--Jarvis Turner is listed as probable after sitting out the Washington game because of flu. Brandon Granville is nursing a back injury but played 32 minutes Thursday night.

* Tickets--(213) 740-GOSC.