It’s a Lose-Lose Night for Trojans

PHILADELPHIA —  USC lost more than a game to a team considered one of the worst in the country Tuesday night -- the Trojans also lost senior power forward Jeff McMillan for four-to-six weeks because of a broken left hand suffered in the first minute of their eventual 71-62 loss to La Salle.

And USC may lose sophomore guard Lodrick Stewart today, when the disgruntled starter is expected to be granted his release from the school. Stewart, whose twin brother Rodrick was given his release early last month and has said he wants to transfer to either Kansas or Gonzaga, has become increasingly unhappy at USC and seemingly reached a boiling point during the loss to the Explorers.

Stewart was visibly angry after being replaced early in the second half and had to be soothed by a staff member outside a huddle during a timeout. He did not return and was scoreless after missing three shots and committing three turnovers in 17 minutes.

After the game, he burst out of the locker room before any other players, cell phone to his ear.

The loss of McMillan, though, may hurt the Trojans more.

Last season’s Pacific 10 Conference newcomer of the year, a choked-up McMillan could barely hold back the tears when he tried to explain his dual frustration of being injured and having it happen in front of about 30 friends and family members.

McMillan, who grew up about two hours away in Brooklyn and played two years at Atlantic 10 Conference neighbor Fordham, was injured on the Trojans’ first possession when he was fouled under the basket attempting a shot.

And though the injury was on his non-shooting hand, he badly missed both free throws. McMillan left the game at the 18:03 mark and while he returned with his hand heavily bandaged with 5:04 remaining in the half, the Explorers closed with a 10-2 run to take a 33-18 halftime lead over the listless Trojans.

“I think we were flat because I wasn’t out there,” said McMillan, who was diagnosed by a doctor at a nearby hospital and will undergo X-rays today in Los Angeles after playing eight minutes of the second half and finishing with four points and three rebounds.

“At least that’s what I’m telling myself.”

Said USC Coach Henry Bibby: “We’re losing a very good player; Jeff’s a good player and a good person. We should get him back for conference play. Hopefully the other [forwards] -- Nick Curtis, Gregg Guenther, Emanuel Willis -- step up.”

Against La Salle (1-2), no one did.

Adding to the Trojans’ problems, the student section of the Gola Arena crowd of 2,638 was chanting “This ain’t football” when it wasn’t showering the Trojans with expletive-filled songs.

Not exactly what USC was expecting after being outclassed by one of the best teams in the nation, North Carolina, two days earlier, the Trojans dropping their first two road games of the season to fall to 1-2.

“We came all the way over here and you want to get a win,” said center Rory O’Neil, who led the Trojans with his second career double-double, 18 points and 11 rebounds.

“We just came out flat. It’s hard to explain. I don’t know.”

How flat? USC was threatening to set school records for futility in the first half, the Trojans’ scoring only 18 points and trailing by 15 at halftime.

La Salle was led by junior forward Steven Smith’s 27 points.

Calling it “something like” a 2-3 zone, La Salle Coach John Giannini had the Explorers pack the middle and dare the Trojans to shoot from outside. The strategy worked to near perfection with USC unable to connect early on, missing 10 of 12 from beyond the arc in the first half and 24 of 32 for the game.

USC trailed, 46-29, with less than 10 minutes remaining, but a mad dash closed the gap to 48-43 with 5:49 to go. The Trojans, having finally shown a spark, then simply ran out of gas.

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A day after saying he would not alter his starting lineup, Bibby started freshman Nick Young in place of Errick Craven, saying Craven was sick. Craven was not allowed to speak to reporters afterward. Young responded to his first start with six points, six rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot, one steal and two turnovers in 17 minutes before fouling out.