A Salvage Job for Trojans

As David Bluthenthal made his way up court toward the free-throw line Sunday afternoon, there were 3.1 seconds remaining in USC’s game against Miami of Ohio and the Trojans’ 18-point first-half lead had evaporated into a two-point advantage. The RedHawks had been forced to foul, putting the fate of the game on the line.

Miami center Alex Shorts walked alongside Bluthenthal and whispered into the USC senior small forward’s ear.

“These are some big shots right here,” Shorts told Bluthenthal. “Big shots.”

Bluthenthal was unfazed.

“Well, that’s good,” he said, “because that’s what I do is make big shots.”

Bluthenthal helped avert a total Trojan meltdown at the Sports Arena as he converted both free throws to give USC its final points in a 59-55 victory in front of a season-high home crowd of 5,115.

“I knew I had to do it,” said Bluthenthal, who has been in and out of USC Coach Henry Bibby’s good graces this season.

“I’d rather make a couple of big [three-point shots] than free throws, but I’ll take it.”

So will Bibby.

“We wanted Bluthenthal shooting those free throws at the end,” Bibby said. “We wanted to put the ball in the hands of those who can make shots. He’s made big free throws for us in the past, against Kentucky [in the NCAA tournament last season].”

Against Miami, USC (6-2) ran out to a huge first-half lead using its seventh starting lineup in eight games.

Bibby had a traditional starting five with senior Brandon Granville and freshman Errick Craven in the backcourt, Bluthenthal and senior Sam Clancy in the frontcourt and junior Kostas Charissis at center.

USC kept its starting lineup in the game until the 10:58 mark of the first half, using its trapping halfcourt defense to smother Miami, particularly during a nine-minute stretch in which USC turned a 10-9 lead into a 15-point advantage, 29-14, eight minutes before intermission.

After Miami answered with a 9-2 run, USC went on a 10-0 scoring spree to increase its lead to a game-high 18 points, 41-23, with 2:52 to play in the first half.

The Trojans played a near flawless half, shooting 65.4% from the field, without being called for a foul until Granville was whistled for a reach-in at the 2:37 mark. Over the next 32 seconds, however, USC was called for three more fouls, disrupting the Trojans’ rhythm.

The RedHawks, who were led by Shorts’ 19 points, slowed the game to a crawl in the second half, limiting the Trojans’ fastbreak opportunities.

“We didn’t get enough stops [on the defensive end], and we stopped pushing the ball,” said Granville, who had 12 points and five assists.

“We were calling plays every time down court, playing like we were earlier in the season.”

Clancy agreed.

“[Miami] slowed it down, and we lost our intensity,” said Clancy, who had a Trojan-high 15 points but only one rebound, his lowest rebounding total since his freshman year.

“The second half, they really made it their type of game--slow and half court.”

Miami (2-5) crept back by limiting the Trojans to 31.6% shooting in the second half.

“We fought our way back and could have, or maybe should have, won this ballgame,” Miami Coach Charlie Coles said.

“Coach Bibby must have thought this was an ugly game, but we thought it was a pretty game.”

Miami outrebounded USC, 36-23, with the Trojans getting only four rebounds on offense.

“They were making shots, and it’s tough to run that way,” Bibby said. “We didn’t rebound. Sam Clancy had one rebound the entire game, and that’s incredible to me.”

After Robert Hutchinson’s three-point basket with 8:11 to play gave USC a 15-point lead, 51-36, the RedHawks went on a 14-2 run, in which the Trojans managed one field goal in nearly six minutes.

By the time Clancy sank a baseline jumper, the RedHawks were within three, 53-50, with slightly less than three minutes to play.

Visions of Pepperdine, which erased an 11-point USC lead in the final eight minutes to upset the Trojans on Dec. 6, began to dance in USC minds as Granville missed two free throws with 2:04 to play.

After Desmon Farmer made one of two free throws and Hutchinson did the same, Miami junior forward Larry Drake made a three-point shot from the right corner with 3.8 seconds left to get the RedHawks within two, 57-55.

Bluthenthal then was fouled by forward Bryan Reed on the inbounds pass, setting up Bluthenthal’s game-clinching free throws.

“It does a lot [for my confidence],” said Bluthenthal, who had 10 points and five rebounds. “But free throws have never been my problem.”