Nov. 15, 2003

Stats

The University of San Diego Toreros dropped their season opener today by the score of 93-68 against a solid Oakland University club led by All-America candidate Mike Helms. The contest was the first of three games USD will play at the Cintas Center on the campus of Xavier University. Helms, who averaged 26.9 points per game last year, tossed in a tourney record 31 points against the Toreros. USD was paced by sophomore forward Nick Lewis (19 points/13 rebounds) and Brice Vounang (19 points, 11 rebounds). The Toreros will play again at 12 noon (9:00 a.m. pacific) on Sunday against the loser of today's 6:00 p.m. contest versus UC Irvine and Illinois-Chicago.

Helms, a senior guard out of Detroit, Michigan, tossed in 23 of his game high 31 points in the first half as the Grizzlies jumped out to a 53-33 lead. During the first 20 minutes the Toreros turned the ball over 16 times and managed to make just 2-of-11 three-pointers. Oakland extended their lead to 24 points (16:43) early in the 2nd half when USD went on a 14-4 run over the next six minutes of play to make it 65-51. Vounang had 5 points in that span and Brett Melton ended the run with a long three-pointer. That was as close as the Toreros would get.

The Toreros, already thin this season with a season-ending injury to Corey Belser (knee) and 4-6 week foot injury to Brandon Gay (foot), were without the services for a time in the 2nd half of Michael McGrain and Brett Melton. McGrain caught an elbow from teammate Nick Lewis to the head and Melton suffered a cut on his chin. Melton returned to play, while McGrain did not and his status for Sunday is questionable.

Stated head coach Brad Holland, "One of the main reasons we wanted to play in this tournament was to get our players grounded and some experience. After this weekend we'll know where we are and where we need to be."

Oakland also got double digit performances from Rawle Marshall (19 points) and Kelly Williams (11 points). For the game they finished with 12 three-pointers with Helms canning 5-of-12. USD's Brett Melton tossed in 10 points and was USD's third player in double digits. USD turned the ball over 29 times in the contest.