Trojans Go Cold in Gold

USC broke out throwback uniforms against No. 2 Arizona Thursday night at the Sports Arena -- Paul Westphal-era script with Harold Miner-age color.

The gold-clad Trojans could have used the scoring punch of Westphal and Miner in the second half. That’s when the Wildcats utilized their deep bench and rode a game-turning 16-2 run to overtake upset-minded USC and hold on for an 81-72 victory in front of a season-high 9,951.

USC, which scored the first nine points and led 15-4 early, managed only two field goals in the last 11 minutes 25 seconds of the game.

“We missed some easy shots at big times,” said USC Coach Henry Bibby. “I thought we broke out of the offense and started playing a lot of one-on-one and got off our game plan. With a team like [Arizona], you can’t break off. You have to run some plays and stay within the offense.

“We had control of the game with 8 1/2 minutes to go.”

Actually, it was with 11:59 remaining that sophomore center Rory O’Neil’s bank shot gave the Trojans an eight-point lead, 64-56.

But with USC not having made a second-half substitution until the 10:11 mark, Arizona took advantage of the winded Trojans and embarked on the 16-2 run to claim its first lead of the game.

Before Desmon Farmer knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing to cut the Wildcats’ six-point lead in half, the Trojans had gone nearly six minutes with one field goal.

USC (6-6 overall, 2-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference) would get within 74-72 on an Errick Craven basket with 2:44 remaining but would not score again.

“I don’t think it was a lack of effort,” said Craven, who had 21 points and six steals but shot nine for 21 from the field. “Our shots weren’t going down. It was a lost opportunity for us. We couldn’t finish on layups.

“We had the opportunity to beat a No. 2 team and we can’t finish with the rock.”

And while Bibby was shortening his bench considerably in the second half, the Wildcats (12-1, 5-0) were able to run waves of fresh bodies at the Trojans.

Arizona’s bench outscored USC’s, 32-8, and freshman forward Andre Iguodala shut down Farmer, who finished with a game-high 23 points but only three after halftime.

“[Farmer] does so many things for them,” said Wildcat Coach Lute Olson. “I think he tired some in the second half. Andre did a good job on him.”

Farmer agreed, to a degree.

“They were switching it up on me off screens.... It made it difficult to get my shot off or even penetrate,” said Farmer, who made one of six shots in the second half. “That’s how the game goes sometimes. What killed us was our shots not falling.”

After making 51.3% of their shots in the first half, the Trojans regressed to 28.9% in the second half.

USC attempting a season-low six free throws, compared to 18 for Arizona, did not sit well with Bibby.

“I have no comment on that,” he said. “I’d probably get reprimanded [by the Pac-10] so now we’re taking away our freedom of speech in this country.”

Still, USC throwing a scare into the Wildcats, who were led by freshman guard Hassan Adams’ 21 points off the bench, helped the Trojans’ confidence. Especially after USC, which committed a season-low seven turnovers and limited Arizona senior point guard Jason Gardner to five points, was drubbed by 39 points by Pennsylvania in its previous game.

“We knew coming in that we can play with anybody,” Farmer said. “The Penn game, we didn’t take them seriously. We play to the level of our competition and we know we can’t do that but we’re young.”

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Sophomore point guard Brandon Brooks’ surgery Thursday to repair his broken left leg and dislocated ankle was described as a success by athletic trainer Mark Pocinich. Brooks, who stayed overnight at USC University Hospital, is expected to be released today.