Victory Leaves Something to Be Desired

There’s a growing question of how much more of USC’s uninspired play Coach Henry Bibby can stand.

The 13th-ranked Trojans are 8-0 after defeating Brigham Young Hawaii, 86-74, in the first round of the Yahoo! Sports Invitational on Thursday night. But 1,201 in the Cannon Activities Center watched along with Bibby as USC once again had difficulty putting away a lesser opponent.

Despite 28 points from Brian Scalabrine (who made a career-high 14 of 20 shots), the Trojans were hounded by a Division II school that lacked the size and strength of USC but showed more heart and hustle.

That was the point Bibby made after the game in a voice so loud they might have heard him back at Heritage Hall.

“If we play more games like that we won’t find many more ways to win,” Bibby said. “Once again, not everyone came to play. Brian kept us in it. But David Bluthenthal [eight points] was not there. Sam [Clancy] wasn’t there. Brandon [Granville] wasn’t there the way he should. We can’t keep having just one or two guys play well.

“We didn’t have the killer instinct to put them down when we had them down. It will be a different game against Mississippi, who can defend and pressure. If all of us don’t come [Friday], you won’t be asking about a win.”

USC had hoped to get off to a fast start, run up a lead and discourage Brigham Young Hawaii. But the Seasiders came out bombing, making their first three three-point shots and building a 17-11 lead at the 14:45 mark. The Seasiders, who outrebounded the Trojans, 37-35, fed off the energy of the home crowd and looked quicker and eager to pull off the upset.

Nate Hair’s three-point basket gave USC its first lead, 28-25. Granville, who finished with 15 points and seven assists, followed with his own three-pointer. USC suddenly was in the midst of a 12-0 run and went ahead, 35-25, before Seasider forward Isaac Turley’s three-point shot ended the drought.

The Trojans led at halftime, 43-31, after Granville’s layup at the buzzer. Bluthenthal opened the second half with successive baskets to give the Trojans a 47-31 advantage.

But USC didn’t take control of the game until Scalabrine made a 20-footer to put the Trojans ahead, 82-65, with 3:20 to play.

Brian Skinner led Brigham Young Hawaii, the host school of the tournament, with 22 points.