USC
UC Riverside
Trojans Cruise Past UC Riverside In Season Opener
November 22, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Nov 23, 2002
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES - Errick Craven scored 22 points and Southern California never trailed on its way to beating UC Riverside 81-67 Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
The Trojans used a 27-10 run early in the game to open a double-digit lead they never relinquished against the Highlanders, who were 8-18 playing in Division I for the first time last season.
Freshman Nate Carter led Riverside with 23 points and John Galbreath added 13.
Craven entered the game near the end of the spurt and immediately capped it with four consecutive points for a 31-14 lead. He scored another four points to help USC lead 40-22 at halftime.
Riverside struggled to start the game, losing the ball on turnovers in its first three possessions and not getting a field goal over the final 8:29 of the half. The Highlanders shot 24 percent in the first half.
The Highlanders got no closer than 12 points in the second half. They outscored USC 13-7 to start the half, when the Trojans committed several turnovers and shot poorly. Carter had seven points in the spurt that cut Riverside's deficit to 47-35 with 12:20 remaining.
But Errick Craven got the Trojans going again. He had a three-point play and a spectacular one-handed dunk that ignited the crowd. He and Nick Curtis combined to score 11 consecutive points as the Trojans increased their lead to 58-41.
The Highlanders committed 23 turnovers to USC's 16.
The Trojans are coming off consecutive 20-win seasons and a berth in the NCAA tournament.
The Highlanders were picked to finish last in the Big West in a preseason vote of media and conference coaches. Because of their move to Division I, they aren't eligible for the Big West tournament.
USC was without high-jumping Jerry Dupree, who is serving a six-game suspension to start the season.
Despite being just 60 miles apart, the schools were meeting for the first time.
