No repercussions for Stewart
No further disciplinary action has been taken in the wake of two altercations involving USC and Long Beach State players during the second half of their nonconference game Friday at the Galen Center.
Replays showed USC senior guard Lodrick Stewart striking 49ers senior guard Kejuan Johnson on the back of the head as Stewart walked up the court after Johnson had been called for traveling. Johnson then charged after Stewart and swiped at his face.
Both players were called for technical fouls, and Johnson was benched for the final 15 minutes 31 seconds of the Trojans’ 79-61 victory. Stewart was benched briefly but returned to score eight of his 16 points over the final 12:21.
Stewart downplayed the exchange afterward, characterizing it as “just two players playing hard.”
Tensions flared again later when Long Beach State senior guard Louis Darby swatted at the ball while trapping USC freshman guard Daniel Hackett, who fell to the floor. Darby was called for a technical foul on the play.
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Because of low turnout, USC students will no longer be required to participate in a lottery to obtain tickets for home basketball games until the Trojans open Pacific 10 Conference play Dec. 28 against Washington. Students must present only valid student identification and have purchased a spirit card to gain entrance into the Galen Center for the next five games.
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Stewart has reclaimed the Pac-10 scoring lead among active players from Arizona guard Mustafa Shakur. Stewart has 1,014 points in his career, 10 more than Shakur, and ranks 29th on USC’s all-time scoring list. UCLA junior guard Arron Afflalo ranks third with 999 points.... Forward Taj Gibson has reached double figures in points in each of his first four games, the first USC freshman to do so since Tom Lewis during the 1985-86 season. Gibson had 18 rebounds against Long Beach State, but that was 10 shy of the USC freshman record of 28 set by Cliff Robinson in 1978.... The Trojans did not practice Monday because coaches were moving into their recently completed offices in the Galen Center.
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TONIGHT
vs. Mississippi Valley State, 7:30
Site -- Galen Center.
Radio -- 710.
Records -- USC 3-1, Mississippi Valley State 1-4.
Update -- The Delta Devils are in a season-opening stretch of seven consecutive road games, having lost four in blowouts plus a two-point victory over Central Arkansas. A USC victory would give the Trojans a 4-1 record for the first time since the 2001-02 season, which was the last time they advanced to the NCAA tournament.
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