Murphy Gives Team Some Energy

Desmon Farmer isn’t the only newcomer making an impact. Guard Tyler Murphy, a fifth-year senior who sat out last season after transferring from Vermont, is providing an early-season lift to the 12th-ranked Trojans.

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Murphy has averaged 23 minutes and 7.3 points off the bench. He shoots sparingly but has made 10 of 17 shots and seven of 13 from the three-point line. Best of all, he’s made only one turnover in four games.

Against Utah, Murphy made both of his three-point shots, grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot.

“I thought he was solid against Utah,” Coach Henry Bibby said. “ He played the way I expected him to play. He’s not gonna kill you with points, but he can make shots. He understands what we’re doing and he’s unselfish.”

Murphy played well enough to keep Nate Hair on the bench. Hair, one of USC’s top reserves last season, had missed the first three games because of a strained right knee tendon. He was cleared to play Saturday.

“I liked what Tyler was doing defensively out there,” Bibby said. “He fitted into what we were doing [against Utah]. It might be different next time, and I know Nate is ready to respond. But if Tyler is playing well, it’s tough to get minutes for other guys.”

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Bibby hasn’t said when he will reinstate suspended guard Jeff Trepagnier but he has said Trepagnier will continue to practice. . . . Injured guard Gennaro Busterna was given a cortisone injection to reduce the swelling in his broken toe. Bibby said Busterna, who has yet to play this season, is still a couple of weeks away.

TONIGHT

vs. Cal State Northridge

7:30, No TV

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--KMPC (1540).

* Records--USC 4-0, CS Northridge 4-2.

* Update--Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell has gotten his team to accept its “road warriors” persona, as evidenced by its upset of UCLA last month. “We don’t have easy games and you take a chance getting beaten down on the road,” Braswell said. “But the past two [seasons] the guys have responded.” Center Brian Heinle leads Northridge in scoring (18.3) and rebounding (8.3). USC, led by forward Sam Clancy (19.0), has won both previous meetings with Northridge.