USC
Pepperdine
No. 13 Trojans Take Down Pepperdine 76-73
December 14, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 14, 2000
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES) - Brandon Granville sank five of six free throws in the final 39 seconds as No. 13 Southern California held off Pepperdine 76-73 Thursday night.
Glen McGowan missed an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have forced overtime for the Waves (5-3).
The Trojans survived their fourth straight squeaker to remain undefeated in seven games. They've won nine straight dating to last season, tying their longest winning streak set during the 1991-92 season.
USC's Brian Scalabrine scored 22 despite four fouls and David Bluthenthal had 19 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 4:55 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.
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 8 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.
