Recurring mistakes get Trojans’ attention

Toward the end of USC’s practice Monday, dozens of strobe lights inside the Galen Center began to flash and an automated voice warned, “Attention, an emergency has been recorded in the building.”

There was no real emergency -- somebody apparently had opened the wrong door or flipped the wrong switch -- but the message still applied given the Trojans’ uninspiring performance a day earlier.

Just when it seemed as if USC had licked its turnover problem with a crisp second half against George Washington and relatively error-free game against Bethune-Cookman, the Trojans reverted to their mistake-prone ways Sunday against Charleston Southern.

USC committed turnovers on four of its first six possessions and finished with 19 turnovers during a 70-58 victory that wasn’t secure until the Trojans opened the second half with a 17-0 run.

“We didn’t start the game right, and you’ve got to start it right,” Coach Tim Floyd said. “Typically, if you’re turning it over early, you’re going to do it throughout the game.”

USC worked the ball inside early but couldn’t convert. Center Abdoulaye N’diaye lost a pass out of bounds on the Trojans’ first possession. Forward Taj Gibson lost another pass out of bounds the next time USC came down the court. And on it went.

Gibson suggested that the Trojans practice at 8 a.m. Monday as punishment for their sloppy play, but Floyd had his players show up at 10:30 as scheduled for a 2 1/2 -hour session that focused on avoiding turnovers and needless fouls.

“He wants us to get better day by day, so he was on us pretty hard,” Gibson said.

USC (8-2) probably won’t need to be at its best to defeat Longwood (3-9) tonight at the Galen Center in the second game of the Las Vegas Classic, but the Trojans must improve for the following stretch.

USC plays Kansas State (7-3) on Friday at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas and could play No. 8-ranked Wichita State (8-0) on Saturday.

“We’re still trying to play aggressive but smart,” Floyd said. “We’re playing hard, we’ve just got to play smarter.”

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Floyd said he wouldn’t necessarily conduct lighter-than-usual practices Wednesday and Thursday, even though the Trojans will be in the midst of a stretch of four games in seven days. “I don’t really believe 19-year-old guys get tired,” he said.... Junior guard Gabe Pruitt and freshman forward Kyle Austin returned to practice Monday after being sidelined because of cold symptoms Sunday. Pruitt is expected to make his season debut Friday against Kansas State.

TONIGHT

vs. Longwood, 7:30

Site -- Galen Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- USC 8-2, Longwood 3-9.

Update -- The Trojans say they are on upset alert after their close call against Charleston Southern. “I haven’t heard of some of these teams, but those are the teams that will come in and upset you,” senior guard Lodrick Stewart said. Longwood led George Washington by 12 before losing 74-60.

ben.bolch@latimes.com