Home-Court Edge Is Clear

They don’t practice in the Sports Arena. In fact, they don’t get inside the building except on game day.

But the Trojans have been making their points on their home court--lots of them.

USC has won its last eight games in the arena, including six games this season. And the Trojans have averaged 91 points a game at home, compared with 73.3 points on the road or on neutral courts.

Four times this season USC has scored 90 or more points in a game, and all four have come at the Sports Arena. At home the Trojans are making 48% of their shots, including 40.2% from beyond the three-point line. Away from the Sports Arena, USC is shooting 45.2% on field-goal attempts and 30% from three-point range.

TONIGHT

vs. Washington State, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--No. 20 USC 10-2, Washington State 6-3.

* Update--You wouldn’t call them vastly improved, but the Cougars should be better than last season, when they won only one Pacific 10 Conference game in 18 tries. Washington State got a lift last week when junior guard Mike Bush returned from academic ineligibility and scored 26 points in the 75-72 overtime victory over Nevada. Tonight’s game is a homecoming for redshirt freshman guard Marcus Moore, who starred at Redondo Union High and Compton Dominguez, winning the state Division II championship with the latter in 1999. Moore is averaging 11.6 points.

* Tickets--(213) 740-4672.