[0] TREPAGNIER REJOINS USC NOW MARRIED, HE HELPS TROJANS WIN USC 82, WASH. ST. 59.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

First, USC shooting guard Jeff Trepagnier got married. Then he got cleared by the NCAA.

Trepagnier topped off a whirlwind 48 hours by scoring three points in 20th-ranked USC's 82-59 victory over Washington State on Thursday night at the Sports Arena in the Pacific-10 Conference opener for both teams.

After more than four weeks without resolution to his case, Trepagnier was finally cleared by the NCAA on Thursday, but, in a strange twist, only regained his eligibility after marrying his longtime girlfriend, USC sprinter Malika Edmonson, on Wednesday.

Under NCAA rules, Trepagnier was ineligible because he purchased a 2000 Cadillac Escalade before the season with former UCLA sprinter Warren Edmonson as the co-signer on the loan. Warren Edmonson is Malika's father, and his wife, Barbara, is a part-time women's track coach at USC.

The connection between Barbara Edmonson and USC made the transaction illegal under NCAA rules, since she is considered an official of the university.

Trepagnier tried for the past week to get his mother put on the loan as a co-signer, but once he got married, it no longer violated NCAA rules because Warren Edmonson became his relative.

A relative may become a co-signer on a loan, although USC protested to the NCAA that there was never any extra benefit gained with Warren Edmonson as the co-signer.

A USC official involved in the case said the university ``strongly disagreed'' with the NCAA's position that Trepagnier could not play until Thursday, citing the senior's four-year relationship with Malika Edmonson as proof that nothing improper had been done to obtain financing for the car.

Confusing? NCAA rules usually are, but in the meantime Trepagnier received his formal clearance after missing all 12 of USC's nonconference games.

Trepagnier finally checked into the game with 13:46 left in the first half and received a standing ovation from about half the crowd. He quickly demonstrated he has been out 12 games, when USC immediately tried an unsuccessful alley-oop play that he missed.

On the next possession, Trepagnier had the ball stolen while driving to the basket.

Trepagnier later missed two free throws and then missed a layup before leaving the game with 11:49 left in the half.

He scored his first points of the season when he hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:22 left in the first half.

Trepagnier was originally suspended for six games by the NCAA after taking a trip to Las Vegas in late September that was paid for by a runner for an agent. The delay in the clearance occurred after USC faculty representative Noel Ragsdale investigated the car purchase and reported her findings to the NCAA.

As for the actual game Thursday, the Trojans (11-2, 1-0) initially found the Cougars tougher than expected, as USC led 38-33 at halftime. David Bluthenthal had 10 points and five rebounds, but the Trojans made only 3 of 11 shots from 3-point range and were 5 for 9 from the free-throw line.

One player who had one of his better games was freshman guard Desmon Farmer, who has replaced Trepagnier in the starting lineup. Farmer had seven points in the first half and finished with 24.

The Cougars (6-4, 0-1) were led by guard Mike Bush, who scored 10 points in the first half. Bush was playing in his second game of the season after sitting out the fall semester because of grade problems.

The highlight of the second half occurred when referee Deron White called a technical foul against USC coach Henry Bibby with 11:51 left in the game, after White called forward Jarvis Turner for traveling.

USC led 52-44 at the time and quickly increased the advantage to 10 points (58-48) after a dunk by Farmer.

The technical foul happened with Bibby standing more than 50 feet from White during a timeout. It was Bibby's third technical in four games.

The Trojans continued to build on the lead, and took a 77-55 lead when Farmer made two free throws with 3:29 remaining.

--Notes: USC forward Brian Scalabrine played with a black eye, the result of an elbow from a teammate during Wednesday's practice.

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Photo: (color) Jarvis Turner of USC dunks during the Trojans' 82-59 victory.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer