BLUTHENTHAL HAS BENCHMARK GAME FORWARD DOESN'T START, BUT FINISHES BIG FOR USC IN VICTORY USC 83, ASU 61.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

There was little question that USC was desperate for a victory Thursday night, but forward David Bluthenthal was even more distressed than his teammates because of his own shooting woes.

And it's no coincidence that the Trojans emerged after back-to-back losses just as Bluthenthal shed himself of one of the worst slumps in his career. The senior scored a season-high 21 points to lead No. 25 USC past Arizona State 83-61 at the Sports Arena.

Things were going so poorly for Bluthenthal that USC coach Henry Bibby decided not to start him for the first time since Dec. 12 against Long Beach State. But the move paid off, as Bluthenthal had one of his best all-around games of the season.

Bluthenthal also had three 3-pointers and 10 rebounds.

Bluthenthal's sagging fortunes have been one reason the Trojans have lost four of their previous seven games. He's averaged 5.3 points per game in the four games leading up to Thursday's.

The victory enabled the Trojans (17-6, 9-4 Pacific-10 Conference) to move into a second-place tie with Oregon, Stanford, California and UCLA. It also raises the stakes for Saturday's game with No. 9 Arizona, which is a half-game ahead of those schools in first place.

Bluthenthal wasn't the only player Bibby took out of the starting lineup against Arizona State (13-10, 6-8).

Bibby also benched freshman guard Errick Craven, opting for forward Jerry Dupree and guard Gennaro Busterna to replace his regular starters. Dupree made a quick impact, blocking a shot and then going downcourt and hitting an eight-foot jumper in the first two minutes.

Bluthenthal and Craven finally entered with 13:30 left and USC ahead 8-7.

Craven hit a 3-pointer with 8:12 left that put the Trojans ahead 23-13 for their first double-digit lead. Bluthenthal's tip-in extended the advantage to 27-13. Craven followed with another 3-pointer and a dunk that gave USC a 32-15 lead and capped a 20-4 run.

Arizona State made a comeback but the Trojans still held a 34-21 lead at the half. Craven and Clancy each had eight points to lead USC. The Sun Devils made only 29 percent of their shots in the opening 20 minutes and their 21 points was a season low.

But they outscored USC 12-2 to start the second half and cut the lead to 34-27.

The Trojans then responded as Clancy hit a hook shot, and Craven and Bluthenthal added 3-pointers to boost the lead to 42-29. Bluthenthal hit another 3-pointer to give USC a 45-29 lead. It was the first time Bluthenthal made more than one 3-pointer since USC defeated Oregon State on Jan. 31.

For good measure, Bluthenthal then added a 25-footer, which signaled his ascent out of his recent shooting slump, when he made only eight of his past 34 shots.

The Trojans had a brief scare when point guard Brandon Granville collided with Arizona State forward Donnell Knight at midcourt. Granville, who banged knees with Knight, was forced to leave the game and went to the locker room but later returned to the bench.

He did not return to the game until the final 2:48 of the first half because junior point guard Robert Hutchinson had a solid effort, with two points, two assists and a steal in 14 minutes.

--Notes: USC made its first 19 free throws before Clancy missed to snap the streak.

Forward Sam Clancy, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds, had his ninth consecutive double-double to tie forward Ron Riley's school record set in 1972.

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USC's David Bluthenthal, right, responded to being benched at the start of Thursday's game by scoring a season-high 21 points.

Edna T. Simpson/Staff Photographer