A GAME-SAVING CATCH FOR GUENTHER FREETHROWS SAVE USC AGAINST ARIZONA STATE USC 76, ASU 74.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

Gregg Guenther caught seven passes playing tight end for USC's football team this season, but none were as important as the one he made Saturday night.

Guenther grabbed Desmon Farmer's missed jumper out of the air and was fouled by Tommy Smith with 3.9 seconds left, then made both free throws to give the Trojans a 76-74 victory in front of 5,172 at the Sports Arena.

Arizona State guard Curtis Millage's 3-point attempt to win the game fell short at the buzzer.

It was easily the biggest athletic moment of his USC career for Guenther, who played football and basketball at Taft High of Woodland Hills.

The game was critical to the Trojans' hopes of remaining in the upper echelon of the conference. USC makes a tough trip to the Bay Area this week.

With Stanford losing to Washington, USC (7-6, 3-2) is tied for fourth in the Pacific-10 Conference. Arizona State dropped to 12-5 and 4-2.

Unlike Thursday's loss to Arizona, the Trojans didn't wilt in the final 10 minutes, though they did squander a second-half lead and the game was tied much of the final two minutes.

Arizona State never was out of the game and quickly erased the Trojans' seven-point halftime lead with an 8-0 run to start the half, culminating with Donnell Knight's layup making it 44-43.

It didn't last long as 3-pointers by Errick Craven and Roy Smiley helped give USC a 53-48 advantage.

The Trojans kept the lead, narrowly, as Errick Craven had 22 points. Craven continued his hot play from the Arizona game, and he had a team-high 13 points in the first half.

Farmer added 16 points, warming up late in the game when he scored on three consecutive USC possessions to keep the Trojans ahead 72-66.

However, ASU's Millage hit a 3-pointer with 2:30 left that made it 72-69. Millage tied the game at 72 with another 3-pointer with 1:47 remaining.

Arizona State freshman forward Ike Diogu lived up to his advance hype with a game-high 24 points. Diogu, who leads the Pac-10 in free throws, had six free-throw attempts in the first half.

USC coach Henry Bibby couldn't complain about the officiating too much in the first half as the Trojans were called for 10 fouls and Arizona State nine. He was incensed after the Arizona game because the Wildcats shot 18 free throws to USC's six.

Arizona State shot 12 free throws in the half and USC attempted eight. By coincidence, Pac-10 supervisor of officials Lou Campanelli attended the game as an observer.

Center Jonathan Oliver emerged from Bibby's dog house and entered the game with 6:48 remaining in the first half. Oliver did not play against Arizona and played just seven minutes against Penn.

He drew cheers, however, with a dunk that gave USC a 33-29 lead with 5:14 remaining.

Another player out of favor, forward Jerry Dupree, came in and hit both of his shots in the first half.

Also making an early appearance was Guenther. He came in with 5:45 left in an effort to neutralize Diogu. It was Guenther's second game since arriving from the football team.

Guenther made two free throws that gave USC a six-point lead (35-29) and followed with a 17-foot jump shot that maintained the advantage.

One reason USC shot 55 percent in the half was that Oliver, Dupree and Guenther were a combined 5 for 5 from the field. The Trojans' bench actually scored more points in the first half (12) than it did the entire game against Arizona (eight).

Dupree fouled out with 6:51 left in the game and finished with six points.

Notably absent was senior center Kostas Charissis, the only scholarship player who didn't get in the game.

--Notes: USC point guard Brandon Brooks attended his first game since breaking his left fibula and dislocating his ankle. Brooks, on crutches, must remain off his left foot for 2-3 months.

The Trojans played their second of three home games that start at 8 p.m. in order to accommodate television. The final 8 p.m. tipoff will be Feb. 22 against California at the Sports Arena.