LOS ANGELES - Just think what would have happened if the Oregon State football team performed close to its potential.

The Beavers felt they needed to play a perfect game to defeat No. 4 Southern California, but they didn't need to be that good - just efficient.

When they go over the video of Saturday night's Pacific-10 Conference game, they'll kick themselves. Heck, they already were moments afterward.

OSU did enough offensively to win but the defense couldn't make the crucial stops. So the Trojans held off the Beavers 42-36 before a crowd of 89,718 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

"There's going to be a ton of stuff that will be hard to swallow, but I don't want to sell our team short," coach Mike Riley said. "We had every opportunity to compete and win. They won and deserved it."

USC was a three-touchdown favorite, but the Beavers (4-3, 2-2) thought they could upset the Trojans (6-1, 3-1) again. They've done it twice in the last three years.

However, USC is a different team at home with 47 wins in its last 48 games. The Beavers ran their losing streak here to 22 games.

"It sucks, but they are a good team," quarterback Sean Canfield said. "We just ran out of time. We just didn't make enough plays."

The Beavers were quick to list off all the missed opportunities. No one of them lost the game, but the accumulation became too much to overcome.

Here's a sampling:

• David Pa'aluhi's interception was nullified by a roughing the passer call. That would have given OSU a short field and potential score.

• OSU lost its first fumble of the season, and it was by sure-handed James Rodgers.

• The offense reached the red zone four times in the first half and came away with nine points.

• A slew of broken tackles sparked USC's offense in the second half.

• Justin Kahut missed a 22-yard field goal.

• The team came into the game with the sixth-best punt coverage in the nation, but allowed a 63-yard touchdown return.

• OSU had its worst night of the season in penalties with nine for 85 yards.

"We will regret many opportunities, whether it was kicking field goals or a penalty on an interception," Riley said. "There are a million things."

OSU's highlight was the offense moved the ball well, even without running back Jacquizz Rodgers in the second quarter due to an ankle injury.

The 36 points scored was the most given up by USC since the national title game after the 2005 season when it lost to Texas 41-38.

"The difference was the first half," Canfield said. "We got in the red zone many times and got field goals out of it, and missed one. Those have to be touchdowns if you want to win, especially against a team like USC."

Canfield completed 30 of 43 for 329 yards and touchdown passes, to James Rodgers, Damola Adeniji and Jacquizz Rodgers. That tied a career high, first done against Idaho two years ago.

Tight end Joe Halahuni had a big day, leading a group of eight receivers, with nine catches for 127 yards.

"I was comfortable with what's in," Canfield said. "That second half we got it going. We hit the things we liked on film. Time just ran out."

As for the defense, Riley gave credit to the Trojans. He didn't want to use the young excuse because the second half of the season just started.

Safety Lance Mitchell said he felt the defense could have done better. He was disappointed because they were ready but weren't good enough, yet.

When the defense comes around, the Beavers will start winning games against the top teams in the country.

"We have to learn a lot from this game," Riley said. "What we should know is we can play and compete. We've lost to three top 25 teams and won our other games. If we continue to get better we'll be all right."

Cliff Kirkpatrick covers the Oregon State football team for the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

He can be reached at cliff.kirkpatrick@lee.net. Read more about the Beavers on his blog at cliffkirkpatrick@mvourtown.com.