Miner Scores 39 as USC Rebounds for Rough Victory

By JERRY CROWE

Jan. 13, 1992 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

TEMPE, Ariz. — USC Coach George Raveling is asked the same question after each of Harold Miner’s monster performances:

Was that his best?

In the future, Raveling might hear a variation:

Was Miner ever better than he was Sunday?

That’s when he scored 39 points, took down 10 rebounds and carried the Trojans down the stretch as they overcame a 12-point deficit in the last 13 minutes to beat Arizona State, 69-64, before 7,315 at the University Activity Center.

“This was one of Harold’s best games, because, No. 1, he was focused,” Raveling said after USC ended a two-game losing streak, improving to 9-3 overall, 1-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference.

“He didn’t take a lot of bad shots. It was one of his best defensive games, no question about it. He got a lot of big rebounds. The other thing was, he didn’t lose his composure when the game got so physical.”

How physical was it?

“I can guarantee that Larry Smith (USC’s football coach) didn’t have a more physical game than this,” Raveling said. “If they want to know who was guarding Harold, all they have to do is get a fingerprint expert in here. They could find out very easily.”

Miner overcame the strong-arm tactics to make 13 of 26 shots.

“They were bumping me pretty good, but that’s just the nature of the game,” he said. “You’ve just got to suck it up and play. I respect it when a guy comes out and plays me as hard as he can and tries to stop me because that makes me a better player and it makes him a better player.”

If all those who tried in vain to stop Miner are better for the experience, that’s about all they can be thankful for as the Sun Devils (9-5, 0-2) wasted a 19-0 first-half run that initially seemed to deflate USC.

On its way to a 34.4% shooting day, Arizona State missed 19 of its first 24 shots and trailed, 22-11, before suddenly catching fire.

While holding the Trojans scoreless for more than 5 1/2 minutes, the Sun Devils made six of their next seven shots--among them four three-point shots, three by Stevin Smith--and ran out to a 30-22 lead. Their halftime lead was 35-29.

With 13 minutes left, the Trojans’ deficit was 44-32.

To the rescue came Miner, who scored 18 of USC’s last 30 points.

“We decided we were going to just turn him loose,” Raveling said. “We gave him the green light and let him go.”

USC still trailed, 56-49, before a three-point play by Miner, who was fouled as he made a leaning jumper, starting a 10-1 run. Two free throws by Yamen Sanders gave the Trojans a 59-57 lead with 3:03 to play.

Arizona State regained the lead at 60-59, but then Miner, after twice rebounding his own missed shots, scored on a follow and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but Sanders rebounded and scored.

After Arizona State’s Jamal Faulkner missed a three-point shot at the other end, Miner made two free throws and USC led, 65-60, with 1:19 left.

The Sun Devils closed the gap to 65-64 on a pair of free throws by Smith and a layup by Lynn Collins, who stripped the ball from USC’s Duane Cooper at mid-court, and they had the ball again with a chance to take the lead.

But with Rodney Chatman and Lorenzo Orr guarding him tightly, Smith forced up a left-handed shot from the baseline that wasn’t close.

Miner added four free throws to provide the final margin.

“I’m just thankful we got out of here with the win, under the circumstances,” Raveling said.