HUTCHINSON DOES THE TRICK USC GUARD DELIVERS FROM LONG RANGE TO SPARK COMEBACK VICTORY USC 81, LMU 67.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

If it took USC a while to digest whatever rallying words coach Henry Bibby had for them at halftime Saturday night, Trojans junior guard Robert Hutchinson had no trouble delivering instant impact to his teammates.

Hutchinson, a 6-foot-1 reserve, delivered back-to-back 3-point baskets to ignite a 15-0 second-half USC run and spark the Trojans (8-2) to an 81-67 comeback win over Loyola Marymount in a nonconference game at Loyola's Gersten Pavilion.

The host Lions (6-5), who led most of the first half, hit four of their first five field goal attempts while opening the second half with a 10-4 run to take a 15-point lead before USC started its comeback.

``I just wanted to bring a spark off the bench,'' said Hutchinson, whose consecutive 3-pointers to cut what was a 49-34 LMU lead to 49-45.

By the end of the run, USC had pulled to a tie with the Lions at 49-49, and shortly after that, the Trojans launched another run - this one a 13-4 burst that took control of the game.

Hutchinson finished with a season-high 10 points and USC forward Sam Clancy had a game-high 19 points - 15 of those in a strong second-half effort - and the Trojans combined noticeably increased intensity on offense and defense in the second half to overtake the Loins.

``Their run-and-jump defense, and our turnovers were the difference in the game,'' said LMU Coach Steve Aggers, whose Lions committed 22 turnovers against the Trojans - 15 of them against the pressing USC defense after halftime.

David Bluthenthal scored 13 points, hitting four of six 3-point attempts, Desmond Farmer had 15 points and freshman guard Errick Craven scored 12 as the Trojans overcame a 39-30 LMU halftime lead.

Greg Lakey scored 14 points to lead the Lions, who got 11 points from Robert Davis, and nine apiece from Kent Dennis and Keith Kincaid.

Loyola Marymount, which had won four of its previous five games going into the USC contest, led most of the first half, when it limited the Trojans to few second chance field goals attempts, and was almost perfect at the free throw line, hitting 12 of 13 attempts.

USC, by contrast, hit just nine of 19 free throw tries int he first half, and was outrebounded 26-19.

After Loyola opened the second half with the burst to jump 15 points ahead, it seemed the Lions were headed for their first win over the Trojans since 1996, but that's when Hutchinson changed the momentum.

``He did some big things out there for us,'' said Clancy. ``It all started with his defense.''

Clancy, Hutchinson and Bibby all wished they knew why the Trojans have trouble putting two good halves together this season.

``I don't know why,'' said Bibby. ``I'm just there, watching like you.''

Dennis, from Cleveland High in Reseda, hit six of seven free throws for LMU and the Lions finished 21 of 25 from the line.

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USC's Jerry Dupree, left, grabs a rebound from LMU's Greg Lakey on Saturday night at Gersten Pavilion.