University Southern California Trojans
Trojans Overwhelmed by No. 10 Kansas
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
December 12, 1998
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Jayhawks will not soon repeat the mistake that ended their school-record 62-game home court winning streak.
Instead of relaxing Saturday night with a big lead over Southern California - the way they did in an 85-81 loss four days earlier against Iowa - the 10th-ranked Jayhawks kept working.
The result was a 107-78 victory against the previously unbeaten Trojans that purged the memory of Kansas' first home loss since any of its current players were in high school.
"In that last 10 minutes against Iowa we lost our aggressiveness and we lost an 18-point lead and we lost the game," senior guard Ryan Robertson said. "Tonight, we didn't let that happen. It was a pretty expensive lesson to learn, to lose our great, awesome streak."
Sophomores Kenny Gregory and Eric Chenowith each had their career-highs in points as Kansas (6-2) took charge five minutes into the game.
"We were pretty down Tuesday, blowing a lead, losing the home court winning streak," Gregory said. "But we wanted to put that behind us. We came out with intensity tonight."
The Jayhawks took full advantage of the 7-foot Chenowith against the smaller Trojans, who had nobody taller than 6-9 Brian Scalabrine.
The 235-pound sophomore had 15 points in the first half, then picked up two quick fouls in the second half and went to the bench.
He returned a few minutes later and immediately scored from inside as the Jayhawks took a 68-38 lead with 14:47 left. USC never got closer than 20 after that.
Chenowith finished with 23 points while Gregory had 27. The 6-5 sophomore was 12-of-16 from the field and had 20 points in the second half.
"I think I was a little more active. I wasn't so worried about what was happening. I just let the flow of the game come to me," he said. "It was really sad the winning streak had to end. But this was a new one starting."
The Trojans (6-1), bidding for their first 7-0 start since 1974-75, took a 14-13 lead on consecutive baskets by Jarvis Turner until Chenowith triggered a 10-0 run that put the Jayhawks in firm command en route to a 53-30 halftime lead.
"We were just outplayed tonight," USC coach Henry Bibby said. "I knew they would be on edge. (The Iowa game) was a big loss for them. Hopefully, this will get our attention and put us back on track."
Kansas' lead again hit 30 points when Chenowith drove in for a layup, drew a foul from Turner and completed the three-point play to make it 80-50 with 10:48 to go.
Jeff Trepagnier led the Trojans with 22 points, while Adam Spanich had 13 and Scalabrine 12.
Since December 1996, the Trojans are 3-14 against ranked opponents.
By DOUG TUCKER
AP Sports Writer
