Dec 5, 2001

Box Score

By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES - Freshman Errick Craven scored 20 points, including five 3-pointers, in his second start of the season and Southern California defeated Rhode Island 82-54 Tuesday night.

Craven's career-high points came three days after he made his first start in a win at Bradley. He had four 3s in the second half, when the Trojans maintained a double-digit lead.

USC started an all-underclassmen lineup - three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. They built a 16-point lead before David Bluthenthal, Sam Clancy, Jerry Dupree and Brandon Granville came in with 9:52 remaining in the first half.

Desmon Farmer had 14 of his 20 points in the first half after being the only Trojan who didn't play at Bradley on Saturday as punishment for not practicing well. He hit four 3-pointers, all in the first half, when USC's largest lead was 16 points.

The Trojans (4-1) had their best 3-point shooting performance after hitting just 24 percent from long-range in their first four games. They also held Rhode Island below the 58 points other opponents had averaged.

The Rams (3-3) have yet to shoot better than 40 percent this season. Dustin Hellenga had 11 points.

They never got closer than 13 points in the second half in the only other meeting between the schools since Rhode Island's win in the 1995 Rainbow Classic in Hawaii.

Once USC's veterans entered the game in the first half, their rust was obvious as Bluthenthal turned the ball over right away. The Rams got consecutive 3-pointers from Steve Mello to close to 25-17 before the Trojans steadied themselves.

Clancy scored five points in a row and Bluthenthal hit one of USC's six 3-pointers in the half for a 33-17 lead.

A rash of USC mistakes, including two turnovers, allowed the Rams to score 10 in a row and get to 33-27 before the Trojans scored the final seven points to lead 40-27 at halftime.