USC
UC Santa Barbara
Trojans Escape With Narrow Victory
December 09, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2000
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - Southern Cal coach Henry Bibby had experienced UC Santa Barbara's raucous Thunderdome once too often. The last thing he wanted was another pressure-filled five minutes of the place.
No. 12 USC (6-0) needed David Bluthenthal's rebound basket with 5.4 seconds left to silence the crowd and beat UC Santa Barbara 75-73 on Saturday night.
The Gauchos (2-5) have gone into overtime in three Thunderdome home games, winning two.
"We didn't want to go into overtime because of what they've been doing in overtime situations," Bibby said. "It would play right into their hands, into their scenario. We're just happy to get out of here with a win."
The 4,216 fans helped rally the Gauchos from an early 14-point deficit. UC Santa Barbara's last push came after the Trojans took an 11-point lead with less than two minutes left.
"It's probably the loudest crowd we've played against this season," Bibby said. "It's like a sixth man for them. They get their team going and stay behind them in overtime. It rattles you a little bit when you play against those guys.
Bluthenthal, who had 25 points and 12 rebounds, put back Tyler Murphy's long 3-pointer for the Trojan win. Bluthenthal's putback was USC's only basket in the final 2:48.
"That's what I do, is offensive rebounding," Bluthenthal said. "It was a shot from the corner. I knew it would be a long miss. Fortunately Branduinn (Fullove) jumped too soon, and I was able to jump right after him and get it."
UC Santa Barbara still had a chance to go to overtime in the final five seconds, but Jacoby Atako's driving shot missed and Mike Vukovich's follow slam dunk caromed off the rim.
"In our four home games, we've had a phenomenal physical effort four times," Gauchos coach Bob Williams said. "I think there's been no die, no dog, no quit in this basketball team four times, and I was really proud of their effort.
Vukovich, a 6-foot-9 junior forward, scored a career-high 18 points, which included two free throws with 19.2 seconds remaining to tie it at 73.
The Gauchos trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half and were trailing 32-26 at the half, but took a 12-0 early in the second half to surge to a 40-35 lead. Mark Hull, held scoreless through the first half, sank consecutive 3-pointers to fuel UC Santa Barbara's rally.
The Gauchos went on a late 13-1 run, getting critical 3-pointers from freshman Nick Jones and then Hull with 49.3 seconds to pull to 73-71. Hull wound up with 15 points.
The Trojans press forced six Gauchos turnovers in the first four minutes. USC also sank three quick 3-pointers and got a three-point play by Sam Clancy to take a 12-0 lead with 15:29 left in the first half.
