USC men's basketball: Trojans with 40-27 lead over Coppin State after first half

USC couldn't have started off any worse, but the Trojans couldn't have responded to the early struggles any better.

USC has a 40-27 lead over Coppin State after the first half, shooting 61.5% with an effort that has involved most of the team. Guard Donte Smith has led the way with nine points. Forwards Marcus Johnson (eligibility issues involving last season's transfer from Connecticut) and Alex Stepheson (sore left knee) made their season debuts, chipping in with six points and five points, respectively. Stepheson, who had sat out all of last year because of issues related to his transfer from North Carolina, also had four rebounds.

It didn't appear at first that the chemistry would click.

Coppin State stormed to an 8-0 lead that entailed USC missing its first three shots and committing a turnover. After Eagles guard Lenny Young hit a three-pointer at the 16:58 mark, Trojans Coach Kevin O’Neill called a timeout.

But then USC came off the timeout on a 10-0 run and took the lead when Johnson's jumper gave the Trojans a 12-11 edge with 10:58 remaining. The Eagles went through a three-minute stretch late in the first half shooting zero of four and committing two turnovers.

USC guard Marcus Simmons (six points), forward Nikola Vucevic (five points) and forward Evan Smith also rounded out the Trojans depth. It staved off the one of six shooting and two points from USC guard Dwight Lewis and the 11 points from Eagles guard Kareem Brown.

--Mark Medina

UCLA football: Stan Hasiak returns to the team

UCLA freshman guard Stan Hasiak returned to the team Thursday, but Coach Rick Neuheisel says it is unlikely he will play Saturday at Washington State. He is not expected to travel with the team.

"He's back in good stead and we're excited that he's back," Neuheisel said after Thursday's practice.

Neuheisel had said Hasiak, one of the top players in the Bruins' 2009 recruiting class, would not be with the team indefinitely on Tuesday because he was "dealing with issues."

Hasiak has been involved with numerous reported incidents involving near fights with teammates during live scrimmages. He appeared in the first two games this season, but then missed the next three games. Hasiak also did not suit up against Washington last week and did not travel with the team for a game Oct. 31 against Oregon.

When he was asked whether Hasiak took care of his personal issues, Neuheisel responded, "I would leave it at he’s back and he’s in good graces and I’m excited that he’s back."

Stay tuned to latimes.com/sports for more coverage from UCLA's practice.

-- Mark Medina

UCLA basketball: Josh Smith talks Bruins

Washington recruit Josh Smith, among the top-rated big men in the nation, offered a few thoughts tonight on why he chose to commit to the Bruins over the University of Washington.

"In the end, I just looked at where I would feel most comfortable," he said. "The history and tradition appealed to me a lot. They've won 11 championships and all the great players that  have come through the school."

The 6-9 star from Covington (Wash.) Kentwood High School did feel some pull toward the Huskies, who play not far from where he lives.

(FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version of this post incorrectly listed Kentwood High School as Kent High School.)

"A part of me wanted the opportunity to stay home," he said. "Playing with guys I grew up with, that was always a factor."

But a visit to Westwood, hanging out with UCLA players such as J'mison Morgan, Jerime Anderson and freshman walk-on Alex Schrempf -- another Washington native -- swayed him. He also liked Coach Ben Howland's brand of basketball.

"A team that plays half-court offense and defense, that fits my style," he said.

USC football: Safety Will Harris is Pac-10 defensive player of the week

USC safety Will Harris, who intercepted two passes in the Trojans' 14-9 victory over Arizona State, has been selected the Pacific 10 Conference defensive player of the week.

Harris, a senior, returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter to give the Trojans a 7-3 lead. His second interception, on the game's final play, secured the victory.

Harris also made five tackles.

USC, which is No. 9 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, continues its Pac-10 schedule against Stanford on Saturday at the Coliseum.

-- Gary Klein

Photo: USC's Will Harris, left, scores a touchdown after intercepting a pass against Arizona on Saturday. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

UCLA basketball: A tough start for Brendan Lane

UCLA forward Brendan Lane was making his way back from an ankle sprain, finally getting back to practice over the weekend, when he hit another roadblock.

The freshman called in this morning to say that he was feeling sick and throwing up.

"That poor kid has had his fair share of adversity," Coach Ben Howland said to reporters today.

For more details from Howland's teleconference, stay tuned to latimes.com.

-- David Wharton

Pac-10 approves reinstatement of Oregon's LeGarrette Blount

The Pacific-10 Conference today approved Oregon's request to have tailback LeGarrette Blount reinstated for the rest of the season.

Blount was originally suspended for the season by Oregon Coach Chip Kelly after the running back punched Boise State player Byron Hout following the Ducks' season opening loss on Sept. 3.

"After a thorough review of the situation, I am convinced LeGarrette Blount paid a significant and appropriate price for the mistakes he made on the field, and that he has learned important life-long lessons," Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement.

Blount has been reinstated immediately, meaning he can play in Oregon's home game this week against Arizona State.

Oregon (7-2) is coming off a 51-42 loss at Stanford but will claim the conference's Rose Bowl bid if it wins its last three games against Arizona State, Arizona and Oregon State.

-- Chris Dufresne

Photo: LeGarrette Blount. Credit: Steve Dykes / Getty Images

UCLA basketball: Honeycutt injured

As if UCLA's scare against Concordia this week wasn't reason enough for concern, the Bruins have suffered yet another in a string of injuries that have plagued the team this preseason.

Freshman forward Tyler Honeycutt will be out three to four weeks with a stress reaction in his right tibia, Coach Ben Howland announced today.

Honeycutt, who recorded three rebounds and three assists against Concordia on Wednesday night, had spent all summer recovering from a spinal stress fracture. The new injury, confirmed by MRI, occurred during practice on Saturday.

Among other injured Bruins, guards Jerime Anderson and Michael Roll were expected to see more action this week. Freshman Brendan Lane is still recovering from an ankle sprain.

-- David Wharton

UCLA basketball: For a good cause

The final tally is in for "Dribble for the Cure II," and the UCLA men's and women's basketball teams helped to raise approximately $85,000 for the fight against pediatric cancer.

The players were joined last Sunday by more than 630 participants who dribbled basketballs along a 1.2-mile course. It was a significant increase over the 400 participants and $72,000 raised in last fall's inaugural event.

“Last year, during our closing ceremonies in Pauley Pavilion, all those involved filled the floor-level bleachers on the west end," Coach Ben Howland said. "On Sunday, we filled the floor-level bleachers on the north side of Pauley, and I knew right away we had more participants and had raised more money than a year ago."

The money goes to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.

-- David Wharton

UCLA basketball: The morning after

If the UCLA coaches and players have sounded like a broken record the past few weeks, it's because they've been, well, broken up.

So, after a distressingly close call against little-known Concordia on Wednesday night -- a 62-61 victory over an NAIA opponent -- the Bruins were once again talking about injuries that have kept them short-handed during much of the preseason.

"We were pretty fatigued by the end of the game because we haven't been a full squad since practice started," forward Drew Gordon said.

When the team resumes workouts, preparing for next Tuesday night's exhibition against Humboldt State, guards Jerime Anderson and Michael Roll are expected to return to full-contact action.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us," forward James Keefe said.

Stay tuned for post-Concordia notes and analysis this morning at latimes.com

-- David Wharton

Photo: UCLA's Drew Gordon, left, dunks over Concordia's Brandon Hicks during the Bruins' 62-61 victory Wednesday. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

UCLA basketball: Surprise starters

After practice on Monday, Coach Ben Howland made a point of saying that tonight's starters against Concordia would not be indicative of his lineup when the season begins on Nov. 16.

It seems he wasn't kidding.

The Bruins opened with senior James Keefe and sophomore Malcolm Lee on the floor, as expected. But they were joined by sophomore center J'mison Morgan, freshman forward Tyler Honeycutt and junior guard Mustafa Abdul-Hamid.

The unexpected lineup lasted just long enough for Concordia to take a 7-4 lead.

Then forward Nikola Dragovic and forward Drew Gordon, both expected to start this season, entered the game. Gordon quickly made a steal and ran the length of the floor for a dunk.

-- David Wharton