University Southern California Trojans
USC
UC Santa Barbara
Basketball Defeats UCSB, 73-62
November 26, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2001
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By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES - David Bluthenthal scored 19 points and Sam Clancy added 18 as Southern California beat UC Santa Barbara at its own 3-point game, winning 73-62 Monday night.
The Gauchos shot better from 3-point range (44 percent) than from the field (34 percent) in the first half, when they led most of the way.
Santa Barbara (2-1) hit eight 3s in the game, but its productivity fell off after three long-range baskets early in the second half.
The Trojans (2-1) were just 1-of-11 from long-range in the first half and looked like they did in shooting a combined 11 percent on 3-pointers in their first two games.
Part of the rust was due to a 10-day layoff since USC lost to Fresno State in the second round of the Preseason NIT.
After falling behind by eight points midway through the second half, USC awoke with a barrage of 3s.
The Trojans hit four consecutive 3-pointers, including three by Bluthenthal, to take a 50-48 lead with 8:46 remaining.
They weren't done yet.
Clinging to a 56-53 lead, USC got three 3-pointers in a row - one from Brandon Granville and two by Bluthenthal to extend its lead to 65-59 with 2:53 remaining.
The Trojans made a key addition when Robert Hutchinson came in to replace Granville at point guard with 12:20 remaining. Granville stayed in the game, but moved to the perimeter where his outside shooting helped.
Shortly after, the Trojans came alive from long-range.
Santa Barbara was led by Mark Hull with 17 points.
The Trojans trailed nearly the entire first half before taking their first lead, 29-28, on a dunk by Clancy off an alley-oop pass from Granville with 2:08 remaining.
The basket came near the end of a 21-8 run that helped the Trojans close out the half ahead 31-30 on an inside basket by Errick Craven with 3 seconds remaining.
