For USC, This One’s a Romp in Paradise

USC picked the wrong day to play a non-televised game in the Maui Invitational.

After practically shedding their blood trying to upset North Carolina on Monday night, the Trojans spent Tuesday morning in paradise ripping Memphis, 92-65, before an announced crowd of 2,400 at the Lahaina Civic Center.

USC (2-1) will play Utah State today for fifth place.

Brandon Granville set school and tournament single-game records with 15 assists. Many went to Jeff Trepagnier, who spent much of the game showing the crowd and various NBA scouts--among them Laker General Manager Jerry West--his assortment of dunks. Granville and Trepagnier each scored 19 points.

Memphis, however, is a team in turmoil. Coach Tic Price resigned abruptly last week, then Tuesday in Memphis admitted having had an affair with a student. The Tigers played again Tuesday under interim Coach Johnny Jones.

“You like these games, but you don’t want to get too crazy,” Trepagnier said of the Trojans’ romp. “Coach [Henry Bibby] kept trying to calm us down in the timeouts. Even with all the dunks, we had to keep playing defense, keep our game face on.”

That was Granville’s job. The longer the 5-foot-9 sophomore point guard ran the Trojans in their half-court defense, the less effective Memphis became. He was also sticky-fingered on defense with five steals.

“We didn’t want to play just scattered basketball,” said Granville, who surpassed the tournament record of 14 assists set by Chaminade’s Mark Rodriques in 1984 and tied by Northeastern’s George Robinson in 1990. The school record, also 14 assists, was set by Larry Friend in 1986 and Stais Boseman in 1996.

“‘We wanted to be organized because they were kind of out of control. They played all over the court, just took the first shot that was available.”

All five Trojan starters scored in double figures. Brian Scalabrine made all seven of his shots and had 17 points. Sam Clancy added 15, and David Bluthenthal had his best game as a Trojan, with career highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds.

For a while, it looked like a Saturday shootout at Venice Beach. The Tigers (0-2) worked hard from long distance to stay close in the first half. None worked harder than point guard Keiron Shine, who made five of his first seven three-point shots.

But Shine, who led Memphis with 18 points, made only one more shot. And he got little help from his teammates. Reserve Shamel Jones, who scored 10 points, was the only other Tiger in double figures.

The Tigers got as close as 27-25 in the first half. Then the Trojans went on a 7-0 run to give them the space to slow the game down.

There was one setback for USC, which will be without swingman Jarvis Turner for today’s game and possibly Saturday’s Wooden Classic matchup with Duke after he aggravated an ankle injury he first suffered in an exhibition against the California All-Stars. Turner will be reexamined when USC returns home.