USC Survives Slow Start

Sensing something was amiss only 54 seconds into a game USC was expected to win big Sunday afternoon at the Sports Arena, Tim Floyd whirled toward an official and called a timeout.

The Trojans had ignored their coach’s instruction to move the ball around and work it into the post, settling for jump shots that clanged off the rim and led to fastbreaks by Alcorn State.

After momentarily regaining its composure, USC struggled to adjust to the Braves’ varying defenses during the rest of a sluggish first half. The Trojans led a winless team by only three points at halftime, prompting Floyd to deliver another tongue-lashing in the locker room.

“It wasn’t real pleasant,” Floyd said. “I wouldn’t want my mother in there.”

Just when the Trojans appeared on the verge of a jaw-dropping collapse, they righted themselves with renewed defensive effort in the second half of a 76-53 victory.

USC (7-2) held Alcorn State to 29.4% shooting in the final 20 minutes and created numerous shots off steals en route to its seventh consecutive victory.

Junior guard Lodrick Stewart scored 12 of his team-high 16 points after halftime for the Trojans, who had four players in double figures for only the second time this season. Sophomore swingman Nick Young had 14 points, sophomore guard Gabe Pruitt 13 and freshman guard Ryan Francis 11.

“I am glad that our guys came out and played more spirited in the second half and created some offense off their defense again, and that’s typically when we’re at our best,” Floyd said.

Was the uninspired first half merely a result of looking ahead to No. 19 North Carolina, which visits the Sports Arena on Wednesday?

“That’s possible,” Floyd said. “I don’t know why they would -- we haven’t beaten anybody and we have a long way to go to get our program where it needs to be on a consistent basis, but those things do happen and we were worried about it.

“Our biggest emphasis going into the game was that this needed to be an effort game, and I thought we did it for about 10 or 12 minutes in the second half, but we didn’t play as well as we can in the first half.”

Trojan players said their first-half struggles were a result of the multiple defenses used by the Braves (0-7).

“They would start out in man-to-man for like 10 seconds and then drop back in zone for the rest of the shot clock,” Francis said. “They were throwing everybody off.”

After center Abdoulaye N’diaye made a layup to put USC ahead, 18-8, midway through the first half, Alcorn State went on a 16-9 run. The spurt was capped by a dunk by guard Delvin Thompson (22 points), who drew the Braves to within 27-24 at halftime.

Stewart said he feared the scene that awaited the Trojans in the locker room.

“I was scared coming in here listening to Coach Floyd. I knew he was mad,” Stewart said. “All the work we had been putting in and then coming out like that?”

Said Francis: “He was very disappointed in our play. He said if we keep playing the way we’re playing, with no intensity, this team will step up and beat us. So we came out and picked it up defensively.”

The Trojans’ early baskets in the second half were telling. After Pruitt made a three-pointer from the corner, N’diaye muscled in for a put-back, drew a foul and made the free throw to complete the three-point play. Young then drove in for a dunk off a steal, putting USC up, 35-26, and sending the Trojans on their way.

“Once we picked up the intensity, our offense started rolling,” Francis said. “We started getting quick baskets and then they didn’t have time to set up [on defense].”