In the End, Trojan Victory Comes Down to Defense

The comeback began in small ways, with a stolen pass here and a blocked shot there.

It ended in much the same way, with USC guard Quincy Wilder lunging for a steal and poking the ball away in the final seconds.

“Defense, defense, defense,” Wilder said. “It’s all defense.”

That is the key for a Trojan team that lacks a true big man and a proven go-to guy on offense. And that was enough to forge a stirring 72-70 victory over Arizona State in a Pacific 10 Conference opener at the Sports Arena on Saturday.

Defense slowed a Sun Devil team that raced to an 18-point lead in the first half. Defense jolted a slumbering USC offense to life, creating opportunities for fastbreak baskets and three-point shots, bringing the crowd of 3,072 fans to its feet.

“We need to get easy baskets,” Coach Henry Bibby said. “If we can just get some deflections, some steals, some turnovers by the other team, we feel we can get those easy baskets.”

The victory improved the Trojans’ record to 9-1, giving them as many wins as they had all of last season. It also put an end to Arizona State’s six-game winning streak.

“USC was switching defenses on us,” Arizona State Coach Rob Evans said. “We stood around too much in the second half and didn’t execute . . . and it hurt us.”

But the turnaround did not come until after Arizona State (8-5) jumped to a big lead on red-hot shooting by forward Bobby Lazor, who led the team with 19 points and eight rebounds, and guard Eddie House, who had 11 points.

The Sun Devils looked quicker in the early going and passed the ball well against USC’s zone, finding open shots inside and outside.

“We came out real flat,” Wilder said. “We tend to do that.”

The game seemed ready to blow wide open midway through the half when USC forward Shannon Swillis was called for a foul and Bibby exploded, drawing a technical. Arizona State made all four of its free throws to take a 32-15 lead.

But, about then, the Trojans switched to a trapping defense and the momentum began to swing.

“It kind of jump-started us,” USC center Brian Scalabrine said. “We really dug down and everybody responded.”

Bibby turned to his bench, bringing in Wilder and Elias Ayuso, hoping to win with fresh legs and fresh intensity. Suddenly, the Trojans were making key stops and three baskets by Ayuso pulled them to within nine points, 38-29, at halftime.

The lead survived for eight minutes into the second half at which point Ayuso and forward Jeff Trepagnier had three steals in quick succession to spark an 11-2 run. Scalabrine scored on two layups. Wilder drove the baseline to bring USC within a point.

“That’s our strength,” Ayuso said. “Defense creates our offense.”

A defense that had nine steals, five blocked shots and forced 18 turnovers. An offense that made a season-high 60% from the field and got 39 points off the bench.

Most of the scoring came from Scalabrine, with a team-high 25 points, and Ayuso, whose 18 points included a three-point shot that tied the score, 60-60, with 6:18 remaining. Wilder contributed a season-high 13 points and gave the Trojans a 68-65 lead when he made a three-pointer with the shot clock ticking down.

It was his first three-point basket of the season. “It just felt like the right time to take a shot,” he said.

But on this night, it was only fitting that his biggest play came at the other end of the court.

It came after the Sun Devils pulled to within two points and USC forward Jarvis Turner missed two free throws. Arizona State grabbed the rebound with eight seconds remaining.

House dribbled downcourt looking to tie the score. Wilder steered him toward the sideline, then made his move. He knocked the ball loose and Arizona State guard Alton Mason was called for traveling when he tried to gather the ball and heave a desperation shot as time ran out.