Utah Utah/USC USC Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Motivated by John Wooden's reminder that basketball is a simple game, Brian Scalabrine focused on scoring, defending and rebounding.


	Southern California's Sam Clancy, left, scored six straight in a late 10-0 run by the Trojans on Saturday.

He was successful at all three in helping Southern California (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) earn a 65-60 victory over Utah (No. 20 ESPN, No. 18 AP) on Saturday in the Wooden Classic.

"I was inspired and it carried over to today," said Scalabrine, who heard Wooden, the former UCLA coach, speak to the Trojans a day earlier. "Our team is playing hard. It was a good effort from the first to the 15th man."

Scalabrine and David Bluthenthal combined for 16 consecutive points in the second half as USC earned its first victory over a ranked nonconference opponent since 1995, when the Trojans upset Missouri, ranked 18th.

"They were well-prepared and they scrambled us on offense," said Utah assistant Dick Hunsaker, who is guiding the Utes while coach Rick Majerus undergoes a month-long rehabilitation from knee surgery.

Scalabrine finished with 18 points and Bluthenthal added 16 points and 12 rebounds as USC remained undefeated in four games. Both players had four 3-pointers each as USC hit 10 of 20 from long-range.

"David got away from us in the end. It seemed like we were chasing them the whole game," Hunsaker said. "When they needed a rebound or a shot, they got it."

USC blew most of a 13-point lead with 3:49 remaining on sloppy play and missed free throws. The Utes (4-2) used an 8-0 run to get within five, then Britton Johnsen hit a 3-pointer to cut USC's lead to three with 20.4 seconds left.

USC missed four of five free throws in the final 1½ minutes before Brandon Granville made two with 18.8 seconds to go as the Trojans won for the first time in their second Wooden Classic appearance.

"I'm happy with wins, but we have to get better," said USC coach Henry Bibby, who played on NCAA championship teams under Wooden at UCLA. "When you're in the top 25, every game is a big game, so we have to be ready with our game."

Phil Cullen led Utah with 18 points, including four of the Utes' 10 3-pointers. Johnsen added 11 points and 13 rebounds as the Utes held a 44-34 rebounding edge.

USC led by two early in the second half when Scalabrine and Bluthenthal took over. Scalabrine sandwiched baskets around 11 straight points by Bluthenthal, including three 3-pointers, to keep the Trojans ahead 46-38 with 13:13 remaining.

"Our defense had poor execution," Hunsaker said. "We let Scalabrine get started and were unable to contain him. He was the strike of the match that got them going."

Utah used some timely 3-pointers to get within three on a trey by Kevin Bradley with 9:52 left. But ultimately, the Utes staggered on 36 percent shooting.

But USC ran off 10 unanswered points, including six by Sam Clancy, to take a 62-49 lead with 3:49 to play. That's when Utah scored eight straight and the Trojans got careless. But they benefited when Jeff Johnsen's two 3-point attempts were airballs after the Utes closed within three in the final seconds. Clancy finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

"We got big rebounds and shots down the stretch, things that we haven't done in the past, and that was the difference," Bibby said. "The biggest concern from early on has been our man defense and tonight it has been the best we've played."

Playing at Anaheim Arena for the first time since stunning defending national champion Arizona in the West Regional final three years ago, the Utes have only one starter back from last season's 23-9 team.

"We're trying to find our schemes offensively," Hunsaker said. "We need to be more disciplined, take care of the ball."

The Trojans remained without guard Jeff Trepagnier, who was supposed to return Saturday after missing the first three games with a fractured foot. But he was suspended indefinitely Friday for a trip he took to Las Vegas in September with Fresno State guard Tito Maddox, his former high school teammate, according to sources cited by the Los Angeles Daily News.

"I have no idea when Jeff will return," Bibby said.

The NCAA is investigating how the players paid for the trip.

Georgia Tech beat UCLA 72-67 in the first game of the seventh annual doubleheader.

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Mens College Basketball Scoreboard

Utah Clubhouse

USC Clubhouse