BIBBY'S TROJANS HIT NEW LOW : LONG BEACH ST. 81, USC 71.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

USC coach Henry Bibby loaded the Trojans onto the team bus following their 81-71 loss against Long Beach State on Saturday night and headed straight to Los Angeles for an unscheduled practice at the North Gym.

``We'll practice tonight because we sure didn't play,'' Bibby said.

The Trojans might still be practicing today, if Bibby has his way. He has just about run out of patience with the Trojans, who dropped under .500 (4-5) for the first time since he was named permanent head coach nearly two years ago.

It's also USC's worst record through nine games in 10 years.

USC scored only 25 points in the second half against the 49ers before 4,134 at the Pyramid, and showed some of the same lingering problems that Bibby has preached against, specifically a lack of leadership.

``We stopped playing. They outplayed us in every category in the second half,'' Bibby said. ``They wanted to win the basketball game. We didn't.

``We didn't have a leader, which we haven't had all year. I don't see any leaders on the team. I think that's going to (come) in recruiting. We just don't have that. It's important. We have to find someone in the next class that can do that.''

It was a stinging indictment of the current Trojans, especially the supposed veterans from last year's 17-11 team that reached the NCAA Tournament.

But senior Gary Williams, who had only eight points and made three of nine shots, accepted the blame for the embarrassing loss to Long Beach State (4-6).

``The reason why nobody else is stepping forward is they're expecting me or (senior point guard) Gary Johnson to take control,'' Williams said. ``Our seniors, we're not doing it. I didn't settle us down when we needed to be settled down. I was rattled like everyone else.

``A lot of this is on me.''

Williams was even embracing the idea of the midnight practice following the loss.

``Anything we can do to get better,'' he said. ``We've got to take it more seriously. I hate to lose.''

Although Williams courageously accepted some of the blame, there was plenty to go around.

All of USC's top contributions against Long Beach came from newcomers. Junior Adam Spanich had 19 points and hit his first six shots, including five 3-pointers. Freshman Shannon Swillis had 10 points, eight rebounds and six blocks. Freshman Jeff Trepagnier played his usual hard game with six points and three points.

That just about summed up the high points.

``(Nobody) wants to take responsibility,'' said junior guard Elias Ayuso, who had six points on 2-of-6 shooting. ``We need to find a way to come together.''

With 6-foot-8 center Jarvis Turner still out with a broken hand, it remains apparent that USC cannot defend post players. Long Beach's 7-1 center, Andrew Betts, scored 31 points, with most coming on simple layups and hook shots.

``He did what he wanted to do,'' Bibby said. ``We miss Jarvis Turner.''

It was quite a comedown for the Trojans, who had gamely managed to push No. 2-ranked Kansas on Tuesday before falling 74-69.

``A lot of times, we're playing to the level of our opponents,'' Williams said. ``We're up for those big games. We think we're supposed to beat teams like Long Beach, and it's not like that.''

Notes: Former Mater Dei and St. John Bosco basketball star Schea Cotton attended his second straight USC game this week. ``They're definitely in the running,'' Cotton said of the Trojans. Cotton said he is also considering Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Syracuse and Cal. ``Everybody is high on my list,'' Cotton said. Cotton is attending a prep school in Connecticut and still must receive a qualifying score on the Scholastic Assessment Test.