USC SLIPS PAST NORTHRIDGE TROJANS HOLD OFF MATADORS WITH FREE THROWS IN FINAL MINUTES USC 75, CSUN 69.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Had the pages on the calendar been turned back about 365 days, the outcome would not have been favorable for USC. Trojans coach Henry Bibby admitted as much.

The Trojans survived a scare from scrappy Cal State Northridge on Sunday in a made-for-TV game that went down to the wire. The Matadors, picked to finish eighth in the Big West Conference, nearly pulled off a shocking upset and trailed USC by just three points with just 73 seconds left.

But USC made its free throws down the stretch - and CSUN didn't - to escape with a 75-69 victory in front of an announced crowd of 3,527 at the Sports Arena.

``We were ripe today to be upset,'' Bibby said. ``Last year, we probably would've lost this game. It was 66-56 (USC ahead) and then we hit a dry spell. We lost all of our momentum and they hung in there. We're happy to come out with a win.''

The Matadors (1-2) weren't happy with the loss but it was hard to be discouraged, considering the way they played in an uninspired victory over Menlo College and a sloppy loss at Loyola Marymount.

With the exception of a slow start - USC ran out to a 9-0 lead - CSUN was never out of the game. Matadors guard Joseph Frazier sank a 3-pointer to tie it 66-66 with 2:55 left and it was close the rest of the way.

It shouldn't have been. USC squandered a 61-46 lead with 10 minutes left in the second half.

USC senior guard Desmon Farmer had a game-high 26 points - including 6 of 6 from the free-throw line - and eight rebounds. Jeff McMillan added 13 points and nine rebounds. It might not have been pretty for USC (1-1) but it was a victory, which was nice following a season-opening loss at Western Michigan.

``It's still early in the season and we still have a lot of improving to do,'' McMillan said. ``We got a big lead and we didn't jump on them like we should've.''

CSUN senior Ian Boylan sat outside the locker room after the game and fought back tears. Boylan finished with just 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting in 40 minutes.

``You only get a couple of games like this when you play in the Big West,'' Boylan said. ``It hurts to know we could've and should've won.''

With CSUN down 68-67, Matadors point guard Davin White (19 points) missed both free throws with 1:36 left. Jeff McMillan made both of his free throws with 1:13 left for a USC 70-67 lead. Boylan missed a 3-pointer on the other end with 38 seconds left and Nick Curtis sealed the Trojans' victory with two more free throws for a 72-67 lead.

``Basically, what stopped us was free throws and I missed two key free throws,'' said White, who had a cut under his left eye.

Again, Bibby played the role of disciplinarian. Freshmen Rodrick and Lodrick Stewart were late to Sunday morning's team breakfast and neither started. Freshman Quinton Day wasn't even allowed in the arena because of disciplinary reasons, although he'll return to practice today.

``I'm trying to help everybody realize this is a team effort,'' Bibby said.

Indeed it was a team effort for the Matadors, who had four starters in double figures. They also had the support of a third-level-section Northridge fan club, which drowned out the rest of the Sports Arena, where just an estimated 2,000 fans watched.

It was a bit ironic CSUN had a better chance to beat USC - something the Matadors have never done - this year than it did when it lost 99-90 in 2000. CSUN made the NCAA Tournament that season and USC went to the Elite Eight.

``I'm very proud of their effort,'' CSUN coach Bobby Braswell said. ``We worked our tails off. We hustled and every timeout our trainer was bandaging floor burns. That was great to see. We scrapped. They're a lot bigger than us and a lot more athletic. Our heart was very large.''

As was USC's, at least in the final minutes.

``The guys seemed more confident, more calm,'' Bibby said. ``We had some older guys on the floor. We've been in those situations. It was really nice to know we can hang in there, we can be in the game.''

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Cal State Northridge's Ian Boylan tries to get around USC's Desmon Farmer, center, and Derrick Craven during the Trojans' 75-69 victory Sunday.

Ric Francis/Associated Press