Trojans Rally Past Oregon State, 91-82

There’s not much that surprises those associated with the Bizarro world that can be USC basketball.

But Coach Henry Bibby, that noted disciplinarian and taskmaster, coming down hard on his lowest-maintenance player, junior center Rory O’Neil, at halftime on Sunday may qualify.

O’Neil, who was scoreless in the first half with two turnovers, responded to the stinging criticism with aplomb and finished with 18 points and three blocks in leading the Trojans to a come-from-behind 91-82 victory over Oregon State.

“I screamed at him and told him he wasn’t doing anything,” Bibby said. “Sometimes the kids need a push -- there was no reason to play him at that time -- he became more aggressive and picked it up and blocked some shots.

“Rory hadn’t done anything until he got going. I think he had 10 or 11 [points] in a row.”

USC, 6-5 overall and 1-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference, actually had to rally early just to get in a position for O’Neil’s second-half comeback before 2,746 at the Sports Arena.

Oregon State (6-6, 0-2) scored the first 13 points of the game and USC was forced to play catch-up the majority of the first half, finally catching the Beavers at 37-37 with 2:19 remaining until halftime.

O’Neil, who had attempted one shot in the first half, looked to be in danger of losing his starting job to Gregg Guenther, who was again playing major minutes in his second game back from the football team.

Bibby went with O’Neil to start the second half, though, and he paid immediate dividends, making a three-pointer from the top of the arc less than a minute later.

In all, the 6-feet-11 O’Neil made a career-high three three-pointers.

“I wasn’t playing very well,” O’Neil said. “Coach told me to go out there and try to block some shots, and luckily my shots started falling.”

In one stretch midway through the second half, with USC in danger of blowing a seven-point lead, O’Neil kept the Trojans afloat by scoring 10 of his team’s 11 points.

And although he picked up his fourth foul with 11:48 to play and USC clinging to a 64-61 lead, O’Neil returned just over three minutes later and played the remainder of the game without fouling out.

No doubt, the blistering delivered by Bibby had its desired effect.

“I just had to take it that he cares for you,” O’Neil said, “and he wants you to play well.”

Oregon State Coach Jay John said his big men getting tired helped O’Neil to get his looks.

“He got open a few times up top, and our guys couldn’t get up there to cover him and he hit some threes,” John said. “He’s their best three-point shooter.

“To USC’s credit, they found a guy who was hot and they kept going to him.”

In avenging last year’s sweep by the Beavers, the Trojans shot a season-high 52.5% from the field, 59.3% in the second half, and had a season-high 10 blocks.

Freshman guard Lodrick Stewart came off the bench to equal his career high with a Trojan-best 19 points, and junior power forward Jeff McMillan had his fourth double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while getting five assists and three blocks.

Oregon State was led by sophomore guard Chris Stephens’ 19 points.

“We’re dealing with egos, pride and chemistry,” Bibby said. “It all came together.”

It began with the unlikeliest of tongue-lashings.