LOS ANGELES (AP)—Mustafa Al-Sayyad scored 18 points and Fresno State stayed undefeated with a 71-68 victory over Southern California on Wednesday night, spoiling Jim Saia’s head coaching debut.
The Bulldogs (5-0) beat the Trojans (2-3) for the first time in Los Angeles, where the teams hadn’t played each other since 1929. Two years ago, Fresno State also started 5-0 and won the WAC regular season title.
Saia was named interim coach on Monday when Henry Bibby was fired after nine seasons, including three trips to the NCAA tournament. Saia had no prior Division I head coaching experience, although he was a well-traveled assistant. He spent seven seasons as an assistant at UCLA before leaving in 2003 when coach Steve Lavin was fired. Saia was a Fresno State assistant from 1990-94.
He became the fifth of the last six USC coaches to lose their debuts. The others were Bibby, Charlie Parker, George Raveling and Bob Boyd.
Rory O’Neil led USC with 15 points and Errick Craven added 14.
Neither team led by more than five points in the second half. Tied at 66, Ja’Vance Coleman hit a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 69-66 lead with 40 seconds left. After freshman Gabe Pruitt missed, O’Neil scored on the putback to draw the Trojans within one with 8 seconds left.
After a timeout, the Bulldogs inbounded the ball and Pruitt fouled Dominique White, who made both free throws for a 71-68 lead. The Trojans lost the ball when Craven was called for traveling. O’Neil was forced to foul Coleman, who missed both. Pruitt raced downcourt and launched a 3-pointer that hit the backboard as time expired.
Al-Sayyad had two consecutive baskets, including a dunk, in the final 2:13 when the Bulldogs clung to a two-point lead.
Fresno State came into the game averaging 79 points. It was just the second time in five games the Bulldogs were held under 80.
In the first half, USC led by 10 before Fresno State ran off 11 straight points, six by Al-Sayyad, to lead 32-31 at the break.
Los Angeles Clippers rookie Shaun Livingston, who went directly from high school to the NBA, attended the game.
