GOOD NEWS ALL AROUND TROJANS WIN, COULD GET PRUITT BACK USC 89, OREGON STATE 84.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

It's hard to tell what was better news for USC on Saturday night: That the Trojans probably played their last game in the Sports Arena, or that injured guard Gabe Pruitt received clearance from team doctors to play this week.

Oh, and there was the game, an 89-84 victory over Oregon State in front of 5,350. But don't ask USC coach Tim Floyd about that, because there was virtually nothing positive coming from him after the win that might clinch sixth place for the Trojans.

``I've never had a team this poor defensively, and we won't in the future,'' Floyd said. ``We can't guard anybody right now. Our basketball team, for this late in the season, should be playing better.

``I'd love it if once we shot 36 percent and won the game. It would mean we played defense.''

Instead, USC shot 51 percent, which did little to soothe Floyd's frustration.

``This was a horse game. We hit a shot. They hit a shot,'' Floyd said. ``We were our own worst enemy. We're ahead seven points with 1:25 left and try to steal the ball and foul them. My hope is my teams in the future will be a lot better defensively.''

Floyd even said if Oregon State forward Nick DeWitz, who scored 12 points, did not leave the game with an injured wrist with 9:50 remaining, the Trojans would have lost. That would have been embarrassing, with the Beavers (11-17, 4-13) currently in last place in the Pacific-10 Conference.

``I feel if DeWitz didn't get hurt, they would win and should win,'' Floyd said.

It didn't sound like a happy 52nd birthday for Floyd, but he apparently vented to the media more than to the Trojans, because the players hardly seemed aware he was unhappy about their defense.

``He said something to, us but it was with a smile,'' guard Lodrick Stewart said. ``This game was our birthday present to him.''

Nobody gave Floyd a bigger present than forward Nick Young, who finished with career-highs in points (33) and rebounds (14).

``We were coming at him left and right,'' Oregon State coach Jay John said. ``We didn't have anyone to defend him.''

USC center Abdoulaye N'diaye also registered two career-highs with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Stewart scored 22 points and tied a career-high with eight rebounds.

If Oregon loses to UCLA today, the Trojans (17-10, 8-8) clinch sixth place in the Pac-10 because even if both teams finish tied, USC wins the tiebreaker.

``We're very fortunate to win eight games,'' Floyd said.

As one of the top six teams, the Trojans would escape playing in a Pac-10 Tournament first-round game.

``We came in this season and we were supposed to be a ninth-place team,'' Young said. ``It's good to see hard work paid off.''

Floyd might have actually received a present when doctors cleared Pruitt, who fractured his knee Feb. 6 and was feared to be lost for perhaps the season. He will practice Monday with a brace and said he will be available for Thursday's game at Stanford.

``Everything is fine,'' Pruitt said. ``The (doctors) told me it's fine right now. It's pretty exciting.''

Pruitt, who averaged 17 points per game when he got hurt, will be welcomed back most by Young, who experienced three quiet games (15 points or less) prior to his career-high Saturday.

``It's a lot of pressure off me,'' Young said.

When informed Pruitt would be available, Floyd said, ``I hope he brought his defensive suit with him on Monday because we're going to work on that for the next three days.''

Meanwhile, there actually was some emotion about playing a final game in the Sports Arena - unless the Trojans host a game in the National Invitation Tournament.

``This is all I know. I love it. I'm going to miss it,'' Stewart said. ``If it was the last game, we went out with a bang.''

USC is scheduled to play next season in the 10,258-seat Galen Center, which is still under construction.

--Notes: Floyd inserted senior Greg Gaudino of La Canada High School of La Canada Flintridge into the game with six seconds left. ``(The students) reminded me,'' Floyd said. ``I thought about starting Greg. He's a great team guy.''

Forward Nick Young said he and point guard Ryan Francis, who frequently chase each other around Heritage Hall, would temporarily suspend that activity until after the season. Young required 18 stitches after he shattered a glass case for a fire extinguisher following a shove from Francis.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

USC's Rousean Cromwell (42) takes a charge from Oregon State's Marcel Jones on Saturday.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer