|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Another close game added up to another
victory for No. 13 Southern California.
| | USC guard Brandon Granville dishes off around Pepperdine guard Michah McKinney. | Brandon Granville sank five of six free throws in the final 39
seconds as the Trojans held off Pepperdine 76-73 Thursday night,
surviving their fourth straight squeaker to remain undefeated in
seven games.
"I was pretty confident Brandon would make those free throws,"
said Brian Scalabrine, who scored 22 points despite four fouls in a
game that saw six players foul out.
Glen McGowan missed an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer that
would have forced overtime for the Waves (5-3).
No one was happy about the tight officiating, a result of a new
NCAA rule on eliminating physical play.
"The kids aren't sure how to play," USC coach Henry Bibby
said. "The officiating is unlike anything I've ever seen. It gets
frustrating. The game has been taken away from competitive play and
put in the hands of the officials."
The Trojans have won nine straight dating to last season, tying
their longest winning streak set during the 1991-92 season.
"We don't ever expect games to be close, but that's just how
it's worked out. Fortunately, we've been winning," said David
Bluthenthal, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out
with 4:55 remaining left, just as the Waves were threatening to
pull off the upset.
Granville finished with 17 points.
Brandon Armstrong scored 18 of his 20 in the second half, and
Kelvin Gibbs added 19 as the Waves had four players foul out.
"Obviously, it's something that all of us coaches are going to
have to adjust to. I can't say anything bad because we're not
supposed to," Pepperdine coach Jan van Breda Kolff said about the
officiating.
Armstrong hit a 3-pointer to put the Waves within three with 28
seconds remaining. Granville hit two free throws to keep the
Trojans ahead 75-70.
But Tyler Murphy got fouled and missed both free throws, then
Micah McKinney hit a 3-pointer to pull Pepperdine within two with
eight seconds left.
Granville was fouled again and made one of two free throws
before McGowan missed at the buzzer.
With 58 seconds left, McKinney had stolen the ball from freshman
Desmon Farmer and scored to make it 71-67. Armstrong then fouled
Granville, who made two free throws in the first of his three trips
to the line in the closing seconds.
USC saw its double-digit lead in the second half disappear with
4:48 remaining. The Waves closed within six on a three-point play
by McGowan before Scalabrine steadied the Trojans despite picking
up his fourth foul in the final four minutes.
He scored five straight to keep USC ahead 71-60 with 2:33
remaining. By then, Bluthenthal and starting forward Sam Clancy
already had fouled out.
Starters Gibbs and David Lalazarian, along with Derrick Anderson
and Cedric Suitt fouled out for Pepperdine.
"I had about three ghost calls. I've never seen six players
foul out," Gibbs said. "I fouled out with about five minutes to
go and we still made it close."
| |
ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Pepperdine Clubhouse
USC Clubhouse
|