UNLIKELY USC DUO SHINES SENIOR CLANCY, TRANSFER DUPREE TAKE CARE OF WYOMING USC 68, WYOMING 55.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

One player wanted to be at USC so badly he gave up basketball for a year so he could concentrate on school work to become academically eligible.

The other was so close to leaving the Trojans that only a 11th-hour decision to pull his name from the NBA draft ensured his return.

But as newcomer Jerry Dupree and senior Sam Clancy passed each other in the USC media room Tuesday after the Trojans' 68-55 victory over Wyoming in the first round of the Preseason NIT tournament at the Sports Arena, one leaving and the other arriving, they slapped hands and smiled at the sweet coincidence of it all.

By staying for his senior year, Clancy gives the Trojans a steady leader and a powerful hammer to pound at opponents on the inside. The Cowboys were his first victims and he pushed them around for 22 points and 12 rebounds, wiping out Wyoming's massive frontline of 6-foot-10 Ugo Udezue (two points, three rebounds) and 6-10 Uche Nsonwu-Amadi (two points, seven rebounds) in the process.

Dupree's arrival means a long, lean body to protect the defensive weak side and the sort of excitable athletic ability that can turn fast-break opportunities into highlight footage.

One almost never made it to USC, one nearly left. On Tuesday they were front and center.

Together.

``If you get beat by your guy, you know he's back there to block it,'' Clancy said of the 6-7 Dupree. ``There were a few times out there that I was yelling because there was stuff he could have blocked but didn't. I was expecting him to block everything.''

Dupree wasn't able to do all that, but he did enough, getting the starting nod in his first game and scoring 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds to go along with the three blocks.

The Trojans took control with a 9-0 run to end the first half to take a 36-32 lead at intermission.

They used their speed and quickness defensively to limit Wyoming to 17.2 percent shooting in the second half, opening a 52-42 lead then going ahead by as many as 15 points in the closing minutes.

The Trojans will play at Fresno State in the second round at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Brandon Granville added 11 points and five assists for USC and Desmon Farmer had 10. Wyoming got 16 points from Josh Davis.

Dupree, a sophomore from Valley View High in Moreno Valley, spent a year at College of Southern Idaho in 1999-2000, then attended San Bernardino Valley College last year to focus entirely on school.

When he committed to USC in August, his coach at Southern Idaho claimed then-USC assistant David Miller had offered him money to convince Dupree to join the Trojans. The NCAA cleared USC of any wrondoing, although Miller no longer is with the program. On Tuesday, Dupree was just happy to put all that behind him and finally get back on the court.

``I loved it,'' Dupree said. ``I've been waiting a whole year for this, ever since my Southern Idaho days and San Bernardino. Time is time, we have a good team, we played a good team and I just want to thank my teammates for supporting me and helping me through all of this.''

Clancy came back to USC when it became apparent he wasn't going to be a first-round pick in the NBA, much to the delight of Trojans coach Henry Bibby, who needs Clancy's leadership and inside force to give USC a chance for another deep postseason run.

The Trojans reached the Elite Eight last year but lost seniors Brian Scalabrine and Jeff Trepaginer.

Clancy and returners Granville, Farmer and David Bluthenthal have to be steadying influences for newcomers like Dupree, Nick Curtis (six points) Rory O'Neil and twins Errick and Derrick Craven.

``We've all been playing with each other at practice and the gym, so it's not like we're strangers with one another,'' Clancy said.

UP NEXT

USC at Fresno St.

(Thursday, time TBA)

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) USC's Sam Clancy, who nearly left for the NBA, dunks against Wyoming during the Trojans' season-opening victory Tuesday at the Sports Arena. the senior had 22 points and 12 rebounds against the Cowboys' formidable front line.

(2) USC's Desmon Farmer, left, tries to shoot against Wyoming's Donta Richardson.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

Box: NO. 20 USC 68, WYOMING 55