Trojans Open a Three-Game Northwest Swing Tonight Against Beavers

In what might be a make or break trip, USC plays three games in the Northwest this week, opening against Oregon State tonight in Corvallis, Ore.

The Trojans and Beavers are tied for the Pacific 10 lead with 6-2 records. But first place in the conference is a tenuous position this season.

UCLA, Arizona and Washington are only one-half game behind USC and OSU at 6-3 midway through the conference season.

“On some nights Oregon State is the best team in the league,” Stanford Coach Dr. Tom Davis said. “But, by March, five or six teams could still be battling for the lead.”

Gill Coliseum in Corvallis isn’t a likely place for the Trojans to gain sole possession of first place. USC has lost 10 straight games at Oregon State’s home court. Moreover, OSU has won 18 of the last 20 games with USC since 1975.

After Corvallis, USC moves to Seattle to meet Washington Thursday night before encountering Washington State (2-7) Saturday afternoon in Pullman, Wash.

Oregon State and Washington were the preconference favorites. But they’ve been vulnerable so far this season. Oregon State got off to a 5-0 start before being upset by Arizona State and California.

But Ralph Miller’s team regined its poise by beating Stanford, 83-73, Saturday at Palo Alto. Forward A.C. Green, the Pac-10 Player of the Year last season, scored 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Miller attacks with a three-guard, two big man offense--with Green and center Steve Woodside, both 6-9, inside.

The Trojans, led by 6-6 forward Derrick Dowell, have been a strong rebounding team this season. Dowell got a career-high 21 rebounds as USC beat UCLA, 78-77, in double overtime Friday night at the Sports Arena.

It’s not likely that USC can contain Green, but the Trojans match up well against the Beavers on the front line. Dowell, 6-8 Wayne Carlander and 6-10 Clayton Olivier will be opposing Green, Woodside and Dean Derrah, a 6-3 guard who is listed as a forward.

Dowell has been on a tear in the last three games in which he has shot 67.6% from the floor, scored 61 points, grabbed 44 rebounds, blocked 5 shots and made 9 steals.

Trojan Notes A. C. Green is the conference’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 19.8 points and 10 rebounds. The Beavers are shooting 54% from the floor while restricting opponents to 45.5%. Ralph Miller’s teams have always been known for their defensive tenacity. Oregon State, 16-3 overall, has won or shared the Pac 10 championship four of the past five seasons. . . . USC, 12-5 overall, has won more games than it did the entire 1983-84 season (11-20). . . . USC is 3-0 on the road in the conference, the only Pac-10 team that has yet to lose away from home. . . . Wayne Carlander has been in a shooting slump the past three games. He has made only 37.1% of his shots, but has pulled down 30 rebounds. . . . Wingman Ron Holmes, USC’s leading scorer with a 15.6 average, played only 19 minutes against UCLA and scored 9 points. Reserve guard Glenn Smith has been productive the last five games. He has shot 56.6% from the floor compared to 40.6% for the season, while making 15 of 18 free throws and scoring 39 points.