TROJANS ENJOY ONE BIG LAST LAUGHER THEY ROUT OREGON STATE, DRAW STANFORD IN TOURNAMENT USC 79, OREGON ST. 45.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

In recent years, USC ended its regular season in suspense, wondering who it would play in the NCAA Tournament or whether it would even be selected to participate in any kind of postseason.

The Pacific-10 Conference Tournament has changed all that, however, and well before Saturday's 79-45 rout of Oregon State concluded, USC knew its next game would be against No. 17-ranked Stanford.

The 19th-ranked Trojans face the Cardinal on Thursday afternoon at Staples Center at 3:30 p.m. in a first-round game. USC, which finished in a four-way tie for second place, ended up seeded fourth while Stanford is fifth.

``I feel good about it. We know they'll be gunning for us,'' USC forward Sam Clancy said. ``We beat them twice and I know they don't like that. I'd rather play UCLA. I feel like we owe them one. I think Stanford's better. too.''

If UCLA had defeated Oregon, the Trojans would have played the Bruins in their first Pac-10 Tournament game.

``I would have rather played UCLA,'' USC freshman guard Errick Craven said. ``With the rivalry and with the game being in Los Angeles, I would have fun in that game.''

Instead, USC (20-8, 12-6) gets a Cardinal team with fresh memories of a 19-point loss at home to the Trojans just four games ago. It was Stanford's worst loss at Maples Pavilion since 1993.

The Trojans also defeated the Cardinal at the Sports Arena, 90-82.

``Its tough to beat a team three times in one year, but we'll try to,'' USC forward David Bluthenthal said. ``It doesn't matter who we're matched up with. It's a one-game season.''

Before completely focusing on Stanford, the Trojans seniors got a warm sendoff from the Sports Arena crowd of 7,012.

The game was so lopsided it didn't matter that only Clancy (20 points, nine rebounds) played particularly well. Bluthenthal had eight points and seven rebounds, but Brandon Granville missed all eight shots, including six 3-pointers, and went scoreless.

Since it was only Oregon State (12-17, 4-14), there was plenty of time to think about the blowout being Clancy, Bluthenthal and Granville's final home game.

``After I came off the court, I thought, `What do I do now?' This is the only home I've known for four years,'' Bluthenthal said. ``That's a long time.''

Bluthenthal and Granville shared an emotional moment in the second half when they were sitting together on the bench.

``I said, `This is the last time in this arena,' and we looked around at the fans,'' Granville said. ``It's our last go-round. But it won't affect me until the season's over.''

The occasion was even more special for Clancy because his mother Anetta Harris, who has been battling breast cancer, attended her first game.

``It meant a lot. It was the first time she could see me play,'' Clancy said. ``Once the game was over, I realized it was my last game I would ever play in this building. It was a little emotional.''

The Trojans received a boost from their younger players, as Craven scored 20 points for the second straight game along with a career-high seven steals, and sophomore guard Desmon Farmer added 17 points and six rebounds.

--Notes: USC posted back-to-back 20 victory seasons for the first time since 1939-40. The Trojans 44 victories over the past two seasons is the most in a two-year period.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Errick Craven (22) of USC looks to score against Oregon State's Philip Ricci in the first half Saturday.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press