Trepagnier Pursues a Grand Finale

Jeff Trepagnier is running out of time--and games.

His senior season has been memorable for all the wrong reasons. A stress fracture in his left foot cost him the first three games of the season. Trepagnier then sat out eight more games under suspension while being investigated by the NCAA.

He has been trying to fit into USC’s season ever since. The results are mixed. Trepagnier has been helping out on defense, averaging five rebounds and contributing 11 blocked shots and 17 steals in 13 games. But offensively, he’s averaging only 7.5 points--less than half of last season’s average--and his 37.6% shooting percentage is the lowest of any Trojan starter.

Coach Henry Bibby brought Trepagnier (and David Bluthenthal) off the bench Saturday against Oregon, and Trepagnier responded with 11 points and eight rebounds.

“It worked,” said Trepagnier of the move. “I think since Dave and I played good we’ll probably start. But if we come off the bench again we’ll be prepared. It got us focused. When we got in the game we wanted to make things happen.”

Trepagnier, playing his final regular-season home games this weekend, is searching for another big game--like the California game last month, when he scored 19 points--that reminds everyone of the player he can be.

“I gonna try to go out with a bang,” Trepagnier said. “The seniors have been talking, and we don’t want to go out with two losses. I’m going to miss the Sports Arena, having played here four years. I have a lot of memories.”

TONIGHT

vs. No. 1 Stanford, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--USC 18-8, 8-6; Stanford 25-1, 13-1.

* Update--Can the third time be the charm? This is the third straight time USC has played Stanford when the Cardinal was the nation’s top-ranked team. The last two meetings were at Palo Alto, the most recent a 77-71 Stanford win on Feb. 1. USC will not catch Stanford looking ahead to Saturday’s clash with UCLA. Along with their No. 1 ranking, the Cardinal is trying to hold off UCLA and Arizona for the Pac-10 title. and earn a top seed in the NCAA tournament. Four Stanford starters are in double figures, led by Casey Jacobsen (17.6).

* Tickets--(213) 740-4672.