Scalabrine at Front of USC's Push

Scalabrine at Front of USC’s Push

By MIKE TERRY

Feb. 25, 2000 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

As they thrashed about in their five-game losing streak the last three weeks, the USC Trojans searched desperately for some sign that something good would happen to break them out of their malaise.

The sign came early in the second half of Thursday’s 82-71 victory against Oregon State at the Sports Arena.

And it came from the Trojan who will have to carry USC’s postseason hopes on his pale, freckled shoulders--Brian Scalabrine.

With the Trojans ahead, 47-43, Scalabrine took a pass in the lane from Brandon Granville and was slammed into by Beaver center Jason Hiede as he went up to shoot. Scalabrine muscled the ball off the glass and banked it in. He converted the free throw.

On the Trojans’ next trip down, Scalabrine tapped in a missed shot as he was pushed from behind by Brian Jackson. He again made the free throw.

The quick six by Scalabrine, who finished with a game-high 26 points, gave USC a 10-point lead and the boost it needed to register a crucial victory before 3,166.

“It’s good to get that losing streak off our backs,” Scalabrine said. “Now we can really concentrate on Oregon Saturday. Our goal is to reach the NCAA tournament, but the first goal is winning Saturday.”

Thursday’s victory drew the Trojans (14-11, 7-6 in the Pacific 10 Conference) within a game of fourth-place Arizona State and within 1 1/2 of third-place Oregon, which lost to UCLA.

It was the Trojans’ first sweep of Oregon State (12-13, 4-10) since the 1996-97 season, and their fifth straight win over the Beavers at home.

Jeff Trepagnier had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Trojans, and David Bluthenthal chipped in with 19 points.

But Scalabrine, a junior forward, has been the one constant in the USC attack, averaging 20.8 points a game in conference play. Thursday’s effort was his fifth consecutive game of 20 points or more.

Deaundra Tanner and Josh Steinthal each had 16 points for Oregon State.

Both teams needed a win to keep alive their postseason hopes, but the Trojans and Beavers played the first half as if they were using a medicine ball. Neither team shot well. Oregon State was plodding along at 39.3% (11 for 28) while the Trojans were moderately better at 44% (11 for 25). Add to the muddy mix a combined 18 turnovers.

USC started out as if it wanted to repeat its record-setting three-point effort the last time the teams met.

On Jan. 29, the Trojans made a Pac-10 record 20 three-pointers in their 82-69 win. In the first half Thursday, seven of their 11 field goals were three-pointers. Trepagnier made the Trojans’ first three baskets of the game--all three-pointers.

But the best the Trojans’ one sustained burst--a 15-2 run--could get them was a 21-13 lead with a little more than 10 minutes left.

USC Coach Henry Bibby noticed his team’s lethargy right away and let the Trojans have it at halftime, as well as after the game.

“I told the team this was a bad game we needed to get out of the way,” Bibby said. “We didn’t play with passion. Once you lose a few games in a row, it’s tough to find a way to win. Tonight we did find a way to win, by making free throws [27 of 33]. Jeff kept us in the game early and Brian made some plays inside.”

None bigger than the consecutive three-point plays.

“You expect Brian to make those plays because he’s an All-American,” Bluthenthal said. “And getting that double-digit lead allowed us to do more things offensively and defensively. We didn’t have to play as conservatively.”

Oregon State, which still has faint hopes of getting an NIT berth, did not help its case, especially with its propensity to foul.

“You can’t defend free throws and we put them on the line far too often tonight,” Oregon State Coach Eddie Payne said.

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PAC 10

Standings

Team: W-L

Stanford: 12-1

Arizona: 12-1

Oregon: 9-5

Arizona St.: 8-5

USC: 7-6

California: 6-7