Trojans can’t hold moment

Laughter filled Lodrick Stewart’s hotel room late Sunday, and for a few hours it seemed as if everything was going to be all right again.

The ache of being separated from his identical twin Rodrick temporarily faded as the former USC teammates reminisced about their years together.

“We were just sitting in the room laughing like old times,” said Lodrick, who remained at USC when his brother transferred to Kansas in 2004.

Lodrick had another moment to hold onto Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse, when the senior shooting guard’s three-point shot with 2 minutes 19 seconds to play pulled the Trojans to within five points of the Jayhawks.

But the moment -- like his time with his brother -- disappeared all too quickly, and No. 13 Kansas pulled away for a 72-62 victory that ended USC’s five-game winning streak.

“I wish there was more time,” said Lodrick, who scored a game-high 23 points on nine-for-15 shooting. “I wish it was a 50-minute game because I feel we could have easily snuck away with a win, but they got it. They stayed poised at the end and took the victory.”

The Trojans (5-2) held Kansas to 38.1% shooting with a fierce defensive effort but were outrebounded, 39-30, and surrendered too many second-chance opportunities.

USC also committed 25 turnovers, 11 by freshman forward Taj Gibson in his first collegiate road game.

“He had a few too many turnovers, and I’m sure he’s not proud of that,” Trojans Coach Tim Floyd said. “I’m sure he’d like to get some of those plays back.”

After Lodrick’s three-pointer from the wing trimmed Kansas’ lead to 67-62, Jayhawks guard Russell Robinson fed guard Brandon Rush with a bounce pass that resulted in a dunk.

Gibson lost the ball in the lane on the Trojans’ next possession, and they never scored again.

Gibson also had 15 points, nine rebounds and three steals for USC, which remained within striking distance until the final minute. The Trojans never trailed by double figures until Robinson’s two free throws with 21 seconds left set the final margin for the Jayhawks (7-2).

“It was a good win for us because they are going to be good,” Kansas Coach Bill Self said. “They are getting ready to be really good when we go out there next year.”

The Rodrick versus Lodrick battle was a brief one. Rodrick played only three minutes, all in the first half, and did not score.

The Trojans used Daniel Hackett and Nick Young to guard Rodrick, and Rodrick guarded his brother only briefly on the other end. Lodrick worked free for one shot while being guarded by his brother but missed.

“I knew at some point in the game he was going to be on me,” Lodrick said, who made five of eight three-point shots. “I told him I was going to run him off screens. It’s fun playing against your shadow, basically.”

But it didn’t last long as Self quickly yanked Rodrick.

“He got mad when I was walking toward the bench,” Rodrick said of his brother. “He said, ‘They’re taking you out already? That was good ‘D.’ ”

Rodrick, a junior guard, has become a seldom-used reserve for the Jayhawks who did not play during their loss to DePaul on Saturday.

“I just hate the situation he’s in,” Lodrick said.

Lodrick said he became teary in the locker room before the game thinking about how much he missed his brother.

“It was emotional just wishing we were together,” Lodrick said. “No matter how tough you are, you’re going to get emotional about your twin brother. I take family seriously.”

Lodrick played with a sense of purpose from the start, making five of eight shots in the first half as USC claimed a 28-27 advantage on his steal and layup four minutes before the intermission.

But the lead dissipated, just like the brothers’ time together.

“I wanted to cry just being able to see my brother,” Rodrick said.

“It was good being able to play against him, but it was sad too.”

ben.bolch@latimes.com