Trojans Refuse to Lose

USC Coach Henry Bibby says the Trojans learn something with every game.

On Thursday, the lesson was about grit and perseverance. And the Trojans needed plenty of both to outlast Arizona State in overtime, 95-92, before 5,343 at the Sports Arena.

In winning their sixth consecutive and joining Arizona (their opponent here Saturday) as the only undefeated teams in the Pacific 10 Conference, the Trojans (11-5, 4-0) had a lot of adversity to overcome. USC had to recover from blowing a nine-point lead and trailing by four in the second half. The Trojans forced overtime on a tip-in by Jeff Trepagnier with 9.2 seconds in regulation, but had to bounce back from an 89-86 deficit with 2:32 to play.

Brian Scalabrine, who equaled his career high with 26 points, broke an 89-89 tie with a 16-foot sideline jumper at the 1:02 mark of overtime. Trepagnier (16 points before fouling out), and Brandon Granville (22 points, 11 assists) made key free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

“This team did not want to lose,” Bibby said. “Guys hung in, guys came off the bench and helped out. And David Bluthenthal ruled the boards to keep us in the game.”

Indeed, the 6-foot-7 sophomore forward scored 18 points and grabbed 28 rebounds, tying the school record set by Cliff Robinson against Portland State in 1978. The Sun Devils (11-5, 3-2) were outrebounded by the Trojans, 51-40.

“Aw, I was just in the right place in the right time a lot,” Bluthenthal said. “What it came down to is, we don’t want to lose at home.”

So far the Trojans haven’t. USC is 6-0 at the Sports Arena this season. And the Trojans have won six of their last seven meetings with Arizona State.

But this victory came with a price. USC may have lost sixth man (and lone senior) Jarvis Turner for another extended period. Turner, while getting fouled on a layup with 4:31 left in the half, landed awkwardly on his left ankle and had to leave the game. He spent the second half in street clothes and on crutches.

Turner already has missed seven games this season because of a broken foot.

Matters got worse when Sam Clancy fell while making a layup and left the game limping on his right foot with 12:48 to play in game. He did not return.

Clancy said afterward the ankle was sore, “but I think I’ll be able to play Saturday.” Bibby was not so sure, saying both players would get X-rays today.

USC did another good job against Arizona State standout guard Eddie House, holding him to 13 points (nine under his average) on 5-of-21 shooting. It continued for House a string of ho-hum performances against the Trojans. He has not scored more than 18 against USC.

But the Sun Devils stayed in the game because of season-high point totals from Awvee Storey (23 and 14 rebounds), and Shell Tanner (24). They might have won the game if they hadn’t lost Storey and two others to fouls.

And House is not a one-dimensional player; he did deliver six assists, several of them no-look passes that led to layups.

One reason why House, the Pac-10’s leading scorer, failed to catch fire Thursday could be that he didn’t start the game.

The Sun Devils do not have a team bus at home, so the players make their own travel arrangements. House arrived at the Phoenix airport 10 minutes before the team’s flight to Los Angeles Wednesday night. He was not allowed on the plane, forcing him to take the next flight.

“Eddie simply made an error in judgment as he was preparing to go to the airport after the team meal,” Sun Devil Coach Rob Evans said. “He offered no excuses.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Pacific 10 Standings

*--*

School W L Arizona 5 0 USC 4 0 Stanford 3 1 Oregon 3 1 Arizona St. 3 2 UCLA 1 3 California 1 3 Oregon St. 1 3 Washington 1 4 Washington St. 0 5

*--*

USC WOMEN LOSE

Mashia scores 17, but Arizona makes eight free throws in overtime on the way to a 78-74 victory. Page 8