Trojans Took Best Shot for Half

Credit USC for challenging No. 14 Stanford for a half on Saturday after being demolished by California, 73-43, on Thursday. USC shot 46.7% against Stanford--only the second time in the last seven games it shot better than 45%.

With five games left, the Trojans must at least win two to avoid losing 20 games, a daunting task considering that USC meets UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Arizona, and Arizona State in the next three weeks.

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USC Coach Henry Bibby said that senior Gary Johnson and junior Elias Ayuso, held out of the Stanford game for violating team rules, would play against USC on Wednesday. Bibby said Ayuso was suspended for missing class but did not disclose what infraction Johnson had committed.