Trojans' effort good in loss

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By MICHAEL LEV

LOS ANGELES ? Say this for the struggling USC basketball team: The Trojans keep trying.

Despite its shorthanded status, USC mounted several rallies against UCLA in the second half Wednesday night. All ultimately fell short in a 64-54 loss at the Sports Arena.

USC center James Blasczyk (31) runs over UCLA's David Wear on a drive to the basket during the first half Wednesday night at the Sports Arena.

MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The defeat was the Trojans' fifth in a row and 14th in their past 15 games. With 21 losses, USC (6-21, 1-13 Pac-12) is one defeat shy of the all-time school record, set in 1988-89.

You wouldn't know things were so dire by the way the Trojans played in the second half. They put together 7-0, 9-0 and 8-0 runs and outscored the Bruins, 38-33, after halftime.

"I thought we fought hard," USC coach Kevin O'Neill said. "We were a couple shots from making it a game."

Although the result was the same, USC's effort was better than in its first meeting with UCLA a month earlier. After that 66-47 setback, freshman guard Alexis Moore said the Trojans "embarrassed" themselves and "did a disservice to the university in our effort and in how played."

The Trojans at least left the building this time knowing they gave their all.

"We played better than usual," guard Maurice Jones said. "We fought this time. The last four games we've just got to fight like we did tonight."

WINTER BREAK

O'Neill is giving his players most of the rest of the week off in hopes of re-energizing them for the final four regular-season games. Over the next four days, USC's only team activities will be shooting and lifting Friday.

"Just getting some rest will help," said Jones, who played 40 minutes Wednesday ? two more than his conference-leading average of 38.

BOOST FROM BYRON

Byron Wesley continues to be a bright spot for USC. The freshman had a team-high 16 points, the fifth game in a row in which he scored in double figures.

"We want him to be aggressive going to the basket," O'Neill said. "What he needs to do next is get in the gym, become an 85 percent free-throw shooter and become a better jump shooter."

Wesley, a 6-foot-5 wing, has made only 50.8 percent of his foul shots this season.

DOWN THE ROAD

The Trojans had one of the shortest commutes possible to the Sports Arena, which is just a few blocks south of Galen Center.

"We could have walked here," O'Neill said.

The team instead traveled by bus. O'Neill said he never considered telling the players they had to walk home if they lost.

"I don't hold food or per diem," he said. "I learned long ago that that doesn't help, it just antagonizes."

Contact the writer: mlev@ocregister.com

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