Trojans Aggressive at the End

So it turns out USC did learn something from its last-second losses.

“We’ve got to stay aggressive toward the end of the game,” said Trojan senior point guard Brandon Granville. “The referees don’t like to make calls at the end. They want you to play it out and decide it.”

In buzzer-beating losses to Pepperdine, California and UCLA, the Trojans held leads before becoming tentative on offense, only to watch the Waves, Golden Bears and Bruins win with desperation three-point baskets.

Against Arizona on Saturday, USC remained aggressive to the end and while the Wildcats were in a position to tie the score on a late three-pointer by Jason Gardner, he slipped and was called for traveling and the Trojans went on to win, 94-89.

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In the Trojans’ sweep of Arizona State and Arizona, Sam Clancy averaged 23.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while extending his nation-leading streak of double-doubles to 10. The senior power forward also jumped into fourth place on USC’s career scoring list with 1,510 points, 14 points behind Wayne Carlander.

David Bluthenthal averaged 26 points and 9.5 rebounds in the two games, and had career bests in points (31) and three-point baskets (seven) against Arizona.

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USC, 18-6 overall, 10-4 in the Pac-10 and in a three-way tie for first with Oregon and Stanford, jumped three places in the latest coaches’ poll to No. 22.

The Trojans’ rating percentage index ranking, a tool used to determine seeding in the NCAA tournament, was at No. 29, according to collegerpi.com.

The Associated Press poll, in which USC was also No. 25 last week, comes out today.

Paul Gutierrez