USC DOESN'T PAC IT IN THIS TIME, TROJANS HOLD ON TO TAKE SHARE OF FIRST USC 94, ARIZONA 89.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

With its cynicism forged from so many last-second losses, USC got that familiar queasiness as the seconds ticked away Saturday at the Sports Arena, perhaps the only team that actually gets nervous from being narrowly ahead in the final minute.

``Towards the end it was like, `Here we go again,' '' USC forward David Bluthenthal said, as Arizona forward Rick Anderson banked a 3-point shot and guard Salim Stoudamire hit an ofalance, sideways 3-pointer in the final 41 seconds.

``I was just praying they would miss their 3-point shots,'' Bluthenthal said.

Another oh-so-close loss was in the air, but this time the No. 25-ranked Trojans defied fate and held on to defeat No. 9-ranked Arizona 94-89 in front of 12,573.

``They couldn't get us again with those crazy buzzer-beaters,'' USC forward Sam Clancy said. ``No way.''

Clancy's confidence certainly didn't come from experiencing losses at the end to Pepperdine, Cal, Oregon and UCLA. Maybe it came from watching point guard Brandon Granville shoot free throws against the Wildcats.

Despite being 2 for 12 from the field, Granville made 7 of 8 free throws in the final 50 seconds to help preserve the victory.

``You don't want to mess it up when you play 39 minutes and you're ahead,'' Granville said. ``We've had that situation before.''

But this time, the Trojans (18-6, 10-4) prevailed. Though just barely. It took just about everything USC had, as Bluthenthal scored a career-high 31 points and Clancy had 28.

And maybe it simply was USC's turn to get a break. Arizona trailed 92-89 with eight seconds left when Wildcats point guard Jason Gardner slipped as he stopped to shoot a 3-pointer. Gardner's shot went in, but it was after the referee whistled the traveling violation.

``I knew he had traveled. I didn't think they would count it,'' Clancy said. ``But it might not have surprised me (if they did).''

The victory had major ramifications for USC. The Trojans are tied for first place in the Pacific-10 Conference, which is far better than dropping to sixth, which could have happened with a defeat after six teams entered the day with four losses.

``This is the biggest game of our season,'' Clancy said. ``We couldn't afford to lose.''

Making that climb back toward the top of the standings might have been the difference Saturday from the previous razor-thin setbacks.

``We have more of a sense of urgency,'' USC guard Errick Craven said. ``At the beginning of the year, we were trying to maintain just being in first place, but now we wanted to get it back.''

To do so, USC won one of the more entertaining games of the conference season. Arizona hit 16 3-point shots, including seven by Gardner, who scored 27 points. The Wildcats (17-8, 10-5) also got 19 points from Luke Walton and 18 apiece from Anderson and Stoudamire.

The balanced effort helped Arizona take a 69-62 lead with 11:34 remaining. But USC came back with a 9-0 run - Craven hit a 3-pointer, Bluthenthal scored on a short hook, Clancy added a free throw and Bluthenthal hit another 3-pointer to give the Trojans a 71-69 advantage.

Arizona took a 77-75 lead when Bluthenthal hit back-to-back 3-pointers to boost USC's advantage to 81-77 with 3:13 left.

Bluthenthal had career highs in points (31), 3-pointers (seven), field goals (12) and field-goal attempts (19).

``With the combination of Clancy and Bluthenthal, they have perhaps the best pair of big men in the conference,'' Arizona coach Lute Olson said. ``Bluthenthal spreads you out and Clancy's inside presence is huge.''

There sure wasn't much spreading in the first half, when the Trojans hit 2 of 17 3-pointers and Granville was 0 for 6. But Clancy kept USC close, scoring 21 points.

The half was highlighted by two hot streaks. USC had an 11-0 run to take a 26-15 lead, but Arizona followed with a 9-0 run that brought the Wildcats right back. The Wildcats led at the half 45-42, as Gardner hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left.

--Notes: Clancy had his 10th consecutive double-double to set a school record. The previous mark was held by forward Ron Riley in 1972. Riley holds the overall mark of 13, which spanned the end of the 1970 season and beginning of 1971 season. ... Arizona's 16 3-point field goals were a record for a USC opponent.

STANDINGS

TEAM CONF. OVERALL

USC 10-4 18-6

Stanford 10-4 17-6

Oregon 9-4 17-7

Arizona 10-5 18-8

California 9-5 18-6

UCLA 9-5 17-8

Ariz. St.7-8 14-10

Oregon St. 3-10 10-13

Washington 3-1 29-16

Wash. St. 1-1 45-18

SATURDAY'S GAMES

Arizona St. 69, UCLA 68

USC 94, Arizona 89

Stanford 76, Washington St. 63

Washington 75, California 60

Oregon 91, Oregonn St. 62

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(color) USC forward Sam Clancy slams home two of his 28 points Saturday in a 94-89 victory over No. 9 Arizona at the Sports Arena. The victory moved the No. 25 Trojans into a first-place tie in the Pacific-10 Conference.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) STANDINGS (see text)

(2) GAME RECAP