USC
Oregon
Trojans Defeat Oregon In Overtime, 87-80
February 24, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2001
By LANDON HALL
AP Sports Writer
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Benched because of his horrendous performance two nights earlier, David Bluthenthal scored seven of his 29 points in overtime as Southern California rallied to beat Oregon 87-80 Saturday night.
Brian Scalabrine added 21 points and Sam Clancy had 13 rebounds for the Trojans (18-8, 8-6 Pac-10), who moved a big step closer toward earning an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament as the fifth-place team in the conference.
Bryan Bracey scored 22 points and Frederick Jones had 20 for the Ducks (13-12, 4-11), who have lost 11 of their last 14 games and are fighting to qualify for the NIT.
Bluthenthal, who went scoreless on 0-for-9 shooting in Thursday's humiliating 67-52 loss at Oregon State, hit a 3-pointer to start a 13-0 run with just over five minutes left in regulation that helped the Trojans get back in the game.
Bluthenthal made the first basket of the overtime - a 3-pointer - and hit two free throws to push USC's lead to five with 2:18 to go. But the Ducks came back, and a 3-pointer by Anthony Norwood cut it to 81-80 with 1:05 left.
Scalabrine then buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key, and that finished Oregon.
The 18 wins are the most for the Trojans in coach Henry Bibby's five seasons.
Bluthenthal made eight of 11 shots, and his point total tied a career high set against Cal State-Northridge last Dec. 5.
A 3-pointer by Bracey put the Ducks ahead 72-60 with 5:21 left. After Bluthenthal's 3, Jeff Trepagnier made two putbacks, with two free throws from Granville in between. Scalabrine made a hook shot, again after an offensive rebound, and Granville ended up with a layup after Trepagnier's steal. That gave USC a 73-72 lead with 2:43 left.
Trailing 76-73 with 30 seconds left, Oregon tied it when Jones hit a running hook that banked in. He was fouled, and the free throw sent the game to overtime tied at 76.
Oregon led by 10 early on, but the Trojans used a 12-2 run to tie it. Bluthenthal played only 12 minutes but scored 15 points in the first half, including three straight 3-pointers, to pull his team within 37-35.
Bluthenthal also had five steals in the game. Trepagnier also came off the bench and had 11 points and eight rebounds.
