USC REVERTING TO OLD STRUGGLES WASHINGTON 93, USC 82.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

So much for that big boost from beating your crosstown rival.

USC gave another of its all-too-familiar listless efforts during a 93-82 loss to Washington on Thursday night in front of 3,835 at the Sports Arena. And last week's victory over UCLA at Pauley Pavilion was completely squandered.

The Trojans showed their only emotion with 3.6 seconds left when forward Rory O'Neil committed a flagrant foul on Washington forward Mike Jensen and was ejected from the game.

O'Neil won't have to sit out Saturday's game against Washington State because he wasn't fighting, but he didn't believe he fouled Jensen hard enough to warrant the ejection. Jensen was limping after the game.

``It was a judgment call,'' O'Neil said. ``It wasn't out of frustration. They were doing the same type of thing to us when we were up there.''

Perhaps, but the Huskies shot 22 free throws in the final 3:31 because the Trojans constantly fouled. USC committed 33 fouls overall and Washington finished with 46 free-throw attempts.

The outcome could have been worse, but the Huskies (10-8, 5-5) made only 30 foul shots.

Otherwise, it was a typical loss for the Trojans, who seem to take a step backward after every step forward. The team stayed in the locker room longer than usual and the players held several meetings, the result of blowing an 11-point lead against a beatable opponent.

``Every loss at home is disappointing,'' USC coach Henry Bibby said. ``You go to UCLA and win and then you can't finish off a sweep against a team you beat up at their place. Washington played well. They've found where everyone fits in.''

If only the Trojans could say the same thing. The loss leaves USC (9-10, 4-6) tied for seventh place in the Pacific-10 Conference.

In a collapse reminiscent of the Trojans' loss to Arizona State last month, when they blew a 14-point lead, USC was outscored 21-4 in the final five minutes of the first half and trailed 43-37 at halftime.

One reason for the meltdown was a season-high 17 turnovers in the first half, with four each by Derrick Craven and Desmon Farmer.

USC ended the first half with just one field goal mixed among seven consecutive turnovers.

``We turned the ball over six of seven times in the first half and didn't get any shots off,'' Bibby said. ``And they were scoring layups.''

It all negated a strong first 15 minutes for the Trojans, who built a 33-22 lead as Farmer scored 12 points. But USC's poor free-throw shooting - the Trojans went 7 for 12 in the first half (58 percent) - hurt.

Bibby's biggest concern, Washington point guard Nate Robinson, was neutralized with foul trouble. He picked up his fourth early in the second half. But Robinson made some big plays in the second half and made a key 3-pointer that gave the Huskies a 76-68 lead and robbed USC of valuable momentum. He finished with 10 points.

Brandon Roy led Washington with 17 points while Will Conroy added 16.

Missed layups also proved costly for USC.

USC freshman guard Lodrick Stewart brought gasps from the crowd twice on one play in the second half. Stewart wrapped the ball around his back on a drive to the basket, then missed a wide-open layup to conclude the play.

``We got within three points in the second half (48-45), and Lodrick missed a layup that would have cut it to one,'' Bibby said. ``That was a turning point.''

Guard Errick Craven also missed a dunk in the first half and forward Nick Curtis missed an alley-oop dunk in the second.

``Nick Curtis missed a layup that really hurt, too,'' Bibby added. ``We got back in it in the second half but missed some layups.''

Other than Farmer, who had 31 points, O'Neil was the only player in double figures for the Trojans, and he only scored 12.

Center Jeff McMillan, who averages more than 30 minutes per game, played just six minutes and did not score.

``He didn't have a good game,'' Bibby said. ``He wasn't ready to play. That happens. There wasn't anything wrong with him (health-related).''

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Nick Curtis (2) of USC is fouled by Washington's Bobby Jones during the Trojans' 93-82 loss Thursday at the Sports Arena.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer