USC
Cal State Northridge
Trojans Win 9th Straight Home Opener Over Matadors
November 30, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Nov 30, 2003
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Desmon Farmer scored 26 points, including six 3-pointers, and Southern California got by CS Northridge 75-69 despite blowing a 15-point lead to win its ninth consecutive home opener Sunday.
The Trojans (1-1) hadn't played since losing 83-65 at Western Michigan on Nov. 21. Farmer struggled for much of that game and finished with 12 points in front of family and friends who had traveled from his hometown of Flint, Mich.
This time, the senior guard was mostly on the mark from tip-off.
Farmer started USC on a game-opening 9-0 run with a 3-pointer. The Matadors answered with 12 straight points before the Trojans regrouped and ran off 11 in a row to take a 20-12 lead. Farmer scored 15 of USC's first 23 points.
Northridge (1-2) got within two points on a 7-0 run with 3:43 remaining in the first half. But USC outscored the Matadors 10-4 to end the half ahead 39-31.
Davin White led four Northridge players in double figures with 19 points. Chris Davis added 18 points, Joseph Frazier had 12 and Ian Boylan 11.
The Trojans built a 15-point lead in the second half, helped by consecutive 3-pointers from Farmer sandwiched in between baskets by Lodrick Stewart that made it 61-46 with 10 minutes remaining.
But then USC's shooting went cold, allowing the Matadors to tie the game at 66 with 2:33 remaining. Northridge went on a 20-4 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Frazier. Davis had five points in the spurt despite having three fouls.
Jeff McMillan dunked and later made two free throws to give USC a 70-67 lead. USC's Nick Curtis was fouled and hit two free throws for a 72-67 lead. Boylan missed a 3-pointer for Northridge before White scored to draw the Matadors within three with 25 seconds left.
After Derrick Craven made one of two free throws for the Trojans, Thomas Shewmake lost the ball out of bounds. Farmer got fouled, made both free throws and the Matadors couldn't score despite several attempts in the final seconds.
During Northridge's game-tying run, Errick Craven fouled out for USC, which already had big men Rory O'Neil and Curtis in foul trouble. O'Neil fouled out with 1:36 left in the game. Curtis got his fourth in the final minute before halftime.
USC freshman guard Quinton Day didn't play for disciplinary reasons.
