University Southern California Trojans
Trojans' Three-Game Win Streak Halted by Arizona
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
January 4, 1999
LOS ANGELES - The nerves Arizona's freshmen felt in a Pac-10 opening loss at UCLA two days ago disappeared against Southern California. Yet it took a veteran to yank the Wildcats back from the brink of an 0-2 conference start.
Freshman Richard Jefferson scored a career-high 24 points and senior Jason Terry had 14 of his 16 points in the second half when the eighth-ranked Wildcats rallied to beat the Trojans 87-78 Monday.
"At least we didn't play like we were afraid to do things," Arizona coach Lute Olson said. "We took the ball at them much stronger. I don't ever want to come in at halftime and feel we're playing like we're afraid of somebody and I thought we were at UCLA."
Terry, one of only two senior starters for Arizona, propelled the Wildcats (9-1, 1-1 Pac-10) with eight points over the final 5:50. He snapped a tie at 67 with a 3-pointer and a basket off a turnover by USC's Brandon Granville to give the Wildcats the lead for good, 72-67.
"Towards the end, I wanted to get the ball in my hands as much as possible and take the big shots," said Terry, who had just two points in the first half when USC applied full-court pressure on the point guard.
"I can't force anything, so I just let the game come to me. In the second half, the pressure wasn't as intense and I just got the job done."
Terry blocked a 3-point attempt by Larry Ayuso with about 40 seconds remaining to help the Wildcats split their Los Angeles road trip. They lost 82-75 at then-10th-ranked UCLA on Saturday.
"If we would have played that UCLA game later in the Pac-10, it wouldn't have been the same thing. We didn't know what to expect," Jefferson said. "It was our first really big game at an opposing place."
For much of the game, the Wildcats were in danger of being beaten twice in a row by the Trojans (9-2, 1-1) for the first time in Olson's 16-year tenure. Just like at UCLA, the Wildcats trailed at halftime.
"We got tentative out there," USC coach Henry Bibby said of the nine-point lead that evaporated in the second half. "A lot of guys (four players) were in foul trouble. That took us out of what we wanted to do."
Arizona forced a third foul on 6-foot-9 Brian Scalabrine at the start of the second half, forcing him to go outside where he wasn't as effective. Four of USC's five starters had four or more fouls.
"I should have stayed down low and if they fouled me out, they fouled me out," said Scalabrine, who was held to eight points. "I got tentative after the second foul. I didn't want to pick up a third foul in the first half. You're really limited to what you can do in that situation."
Last year at the Sports Arena, Southern California snapped then-No. 2 Arizona's 19-game winning streak with a 91-90 overtime victory that spoiled the Wildcats' bid for an undefeated Pac-10 season. They hadn't won here since 1996.
"Only three or four of us went through that, so the young guys didn't know anything about the USC jinx," Terry said. "I think we pretty much broke it today."
Freshman Sam Clancy had a career-high 16 points and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds before fouling out with 2:42 remaining to lead the Trojans, who saw their nine-game winning streak at the Sports Arena end.
Jefferson's previous best was 17 points against Florida International on Dec. 20. He also had career highs in rebounds (eight) and assists (six).
"If he comes out and maybe doesn't hit his first couple baskets, he kind of gets down on himself," Terry said, "but he came out and was aggressive with the penetration and didn't turn it over too many times. That's what he has to do."
Trailing by nine at halftime, the Wildcats got back into the game with a 17-8 run to start the second half, including seven straight to forge a tie at 52.
The teams traded one-point leads or were tied until Ayuso scored seven points in two minutes to put the Trojans ahead, 66-61, with 7:35 remaining.
The Wildcats scored four straight points before Jeff Trepagnier hit one of two free throws for the game's final tie at 67. Trepagnier added 14 points for USC.
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
