Trojans Run Into Dead End

There’s a cemetery across the street from Oregon’s vaunted McArthur Court, which is fitting, because USC was buried beneath a late avalanche of Duck runs and big plays Saturday afternoon.

The 23rd-ranked Trojans twice held six-point leads and seemed as if they might put the game away. But Oregon, behind some streaky three-point shooting, closed out the Trojans with a 73-69 victory to take a one-game lead in the Pacific 10 Conference race in front of a rowdy sellout crowd of 9,087.

USC (16-5 overall, 8-3 in the Pac-10) had a 63-57 lead after two Sam Clancy free throws with 5:54 to play. Oregon, though, ended the game by outscoring the Trojans, 16-6, a run that included three three-pointers and a back-breaking three-point play to give the Ducks a 71-69 lead with 38.8 seconds to play.

Oregon (17-5, 9-2 and 13-0 at home) came into the game averaging a league-best 88.9 points in conference games and making a league-best 42.6% of their three-point attempts. The Ducks made only nine of 28 three-pointers and four of 17 in the second half, but they came at the right time.

“That’s what they do,” USC Coach Henry Bibby said. “They go on runs and speed the game up. They’re first in the Pac-10 in shooting the three-pointer and they made them when they had to.”

Clancy, who finished with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds for his seventh consecutive double-double and 13th of the year, had converted two free throws with 55.5 seconds to play to give USC a 69-68 lead.

But on Oregon’s next trip down the court, Duck forward Luke Jackson beat Clancy off the dribble in the lane. USC guard Desmon Farmer tried to spin around to help out but twisted his left ankle on the play and fell to the side as Clancy was called for a foul on Jackson just before his runner went in.

“I got beat on the play and I’ll take full responsibility for it,” Clancy said. “He leaned into me and got the foul.”

Jackson made the free throw to complete the three-point play with 38.8 seconds remaining, giving the Ducks a 71-69 advantage.

Rather than go down low to Clancy, USC drew up a game-winning three-point attempt for Brandon Granville on the left wing.

The Ducks closed in on Granville, though, and the USC senior point guard, who had already made three three-pointers in the game and had scored 17 points, passed to David Bluthenthal at the top of the key. Bluthenthal, who had an open look, unleashed a 25-footer that bounced off the rim and into the waiting arms of Oregon guard Frederick Jones.

Bluthenthal, who shot two for 11 from the field on the day, including 0 for 3 from beyond the three-point strip, left the arena without commenting.

Bibby said Bluthenthal was the Trojans’ second option on the play.

“We were going for the win,” Bibby said. “What have you got to lose, besides the game? It went exactly the way we planned it. You win if you score. It was a game-winning shot, but it didn’t go in.”

USC shot 39.3% from the field and made four of nine three-pointers.

The Trojans’ other six-point advantage came on a Granville score with 5:03 remaining in the first half, giving the Trojans a 34-28 lead.

The Ducks then embarked on an 11-1 run over the next three minutes to gain a 39-35 lead.

“Our inner spirit is tested in games like these,” Oregon Coach Ernie Kent said of his team, which was led by sophomore guard Luke Ridnour’s 15 points. “We needed to keep calm and we did. The ability to keep their composure will help them not only at Oregon but also wherever they go after the game is over and in their everyday lives.

“These games teach us and help us grow as a team.”

Granville was less philosophical.

“They just made some shots,” he said. “They made some shots when they had to and that’s the difference. It wasn’t an Xs and O’s thing.

“This is a tough one, but we’ve got to live with it. We’re only one game down.”

Clancy agreed.

“Just because we lost at Oregon doesn’t mean our season’s over,” he said. “We still have them at home.”