Nov. 25, 2003
GAME 5: The San Diego men's basketball team (0-4) plays its home opener this coming Friday, November 28th, when they host the Southern Methodist Mustangs (1-0) in a 7:00 p.m. contest at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
SERIES RECORD: The SMU Mustangs lead the series with USD 2-1 for Division I contests, and 3-1 overall ... the Mustangs earned a come-from-behind 88-82 overtime win last season on January 2nd in Dallas ... they also won in 1992-93 (106-71) while San Diego won in 1991-92 (75-68) ... during USD's last season at Division II in 1978-79, the Toreros lost to SMU, 89-61 ... both teams have won their games on their home floor.
RADIO/WEBCAST: Friday's game will be aired on ESPN 800 AM with Jerry Gross (play-by-play) and Jim Brogan (color) calling the action. The broadcast can also be heard via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com. His pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m. (PST). USD's nonconference games will air on ESPN 800 AM, while the WCC games will air on KCBQ 1170 AM.
TORERO TALK: This season prior to every home game Jack Murray will host Torero Talk that can be heard via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com. The webcast, that will include interviews with members of the Torero coaching staff, players, alumni and staff of USD, will air from 6:00 p.m. until 6:40 p.m. and will preclude the pre-game show of Jerry Gross, also heard on www.usdtoreros.com, that will begin at 6:45 pm.
Brad Holland (10TH YEAR): USD head coach Brad Holland (UCLA, 1979) is in his tenth season at the helm of Torero basketball. Last season he directed the Toreros to an overall 18-12 record and 2nd place finish in the WCC at 10-4. The Toreros won their first WCC Tournament title and played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in sixteen years. In 1999-2000, Holland was chosen WCC Coach of the Year by his peers for the second straight season after he guided the Toreros to a 20-9 mark -- including wins over every WCC foe. In 1998-99 he guided the Toreros to an 18-9 mark and 2nd place finish in the WCC (9-5; tie for 2nd). Holland's USD career mark heading into Friday's game with SMU is 144-115; including two seasons at CS Fullerton, his overall coaching record is 167-146. Since the start of 1998-99 season, Holland is 88-60. Holland, who played four years of basketball at UCLA (1976-79), was the 14th player taken in the first round of the 1979 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a member of the 1980 NBA Los Angeles Lakers championship team. Brad and his wife Leslie, who reside in Carlsbad, have three children: twin daughters Kristin and Lisa, seniors at USD, and a 11-year-old son, Kyle.
TOREROS FALL TO CREIGHTON: Creighton opened the 2003-04 season with a 79-44 victory over San Diego on November 22nd. A record home crowd of 12,255 showed up for the first game at the $291 million Qwest Center OMAHA. Creighton took an early 13-2 lead and never trailed. CU used separate runs of 9-0, 8-0 and 10-0 to build a 33-8 lead with 3:20 left in the opening half to put away the Toreros for good. CU led 37-17 at the intermission behind 10 first-half points from Joe Dabbert and nine rebounds from center Brody Deren. San Diego shot 34 percent for the game and made 27 turnovers. Brice Vounang led all Torero players with 15 points. Brett Melton was the only other Torero to reach double digits with 10 points. Mike McGrain led the team with 8 rebounds while Adbou Sane grabbed a personal best 7.
COPPIN STATE HANDS TOREROS 76-62 SETBACK: San Diego came away from the 2003 Dell BCA Classic without a victory after dropping a 76-62 contest to Coppin State on Monday, November 17th ... Coppin State's depth was just too much for San Diego as they had ten players play 14 or more minutes ... once again USD was paced by Brice Vounang who scored a game-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field ... Brad Lechtenberg tossed in a personal-best 15 points as he made 5-of-8 shots, including 3-of-5 treys ... Nick Lewis was the third Torero to reach double digits as he finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds ... USD was solid from the free throw line, making 85% (17-20), but they were beat on the boards, 39-27 with the athletic Eagles getting 16 of their 39 on the offensive end ... Coppin State was paced by Chad Yates off the bench with 18 points.
TOREROS LOSE 65-60 TO UC IRVINE: San Diego lost their second game of the season by the score of 65-60 to UC Irvine. The loss ended a six-game winning streak against the Anteaters. USD was ahead by as many as 13 points late in the first half but UCI rallied to get within 6 points at intermission (31-25). In the second half the Anteaters took the lead for the first time with 11:52 to go at 42-41, then increased their lead to 10 at 55-45 with 6:49 to go. The Toreros got within 1 point twice, the last with :18 seconds to go when Nick Lewis made 1-of-2 free throws. UCI's Jeff Gloger made 4 straight free throws from their to ice the game. USD was paced by Brice Vounang (16 points/7 rebounds).
TOREROS DROP OPENER TO OAKLAND 93-68: Oakland (Rochester, MI), which returned 5 starters from last year's 17-11 club, beat the Toreros 93-68 behind the play of senior guard Mike Helms, an All-America Candidate ... Helms poured in 31 points with 23 coming in the first half as the Grizzlies took a 53-33 lead ... OU extended the lead to 24 points early in the second half before the Toreros strung together a 14-4 run that cut the deficit to 14 points (65-51) with just over 10 minutes to play ... from their OU's depth was just too much for San Diego as they outscored the Toreros 28-17 ... USD was paced by sophomore forward/center Nick Lewis (19 points/13 rebounds) and newcomer Brice Vounang (19 pts/11 reb.)
TOREROS WIN BOTH EXHIBITIONS: San Diego won both of its preseason exhibition contests ... the Toreros downed the LA Stars 76-73 on Nov. 2nd, then followed up with a 90-70 win over Cal Poly on Nov. 7th ... against the LA Stars Brice Vounang led the way with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Nick Lewis chipped in with 18 points & 11 rebounds. Brett Melton (26 points) and Vounang (22 points/13 rebounds) led the way against Cal Poly.
TORERO MASH UNIT: Junior forward Corey Belser (Tacoma, WA), USD's lone returning starter from last year's 18-12 club that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, was lost for the season in the team's second exhibition on Nov. 7th. After grabbing an offensive rebound 3 minutes into the contest, he injured his right knee. Belser joins newcomer Brandon Gay (out indefinitely with a stress fracture) and sophomore guard Travis Smith (right shoulder injury). TOREROS PICKED 5TH IN WCC PRESEASON POLL: In the 2003-04 WCC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll the Toreros have been picked to finish 5th. Gonzaga was tabbed as the favorite after receiving 7 first place votes and 49 points. Saint Mary's received one first place vote and tied with Pepperdine for second with 37 points. They were followed by San Francisco (32), San Diego (23), Santa Clara (22), Portland (13) and Loyola Marymount (11).
SCOUTING THE SMU MUSTANGS: Behind a career-high 25 points from Justin Isham, the SMU Mustangs opened their 2003-04 season with a 69-59 win over Texas Pan-American on Nov. 22. Isham had an outstanding night, shooting 8-of-10 from the floor while pulling down four boards and dishing out four assists. Bryan Hopkins and Eric Castro added 15 and 10, respectively. SMU held a 40-34 rebounding edge behind Patrick Simpson's eight boards and Devon Pearson's six caroms. 10th-year head coach Mike Dement (129-106) returns 4 starters and 11 players from last year's 17-13 club.
TORERO SPOTLIGHT ON ESPN 800 AM: Every Tuesday and Friday the University of San Diego will air four 'Torero Spotlights' hosted by Jack Murray. Murray will interview USD coaches and student-athletes and promote upcoming Torero events. The Torero Spotlights air at 8:22 a.m, 1:22 p.m., 4:25 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday.
FOLLOW USD ATHLETICS ON THE WEB: Get all the current notes and statistics on San Diego basketball, as well as all USD athletic teams, via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com.
UP NEXT: The University of San Diego returns home to host San Diego State on Wednesday, Dec. 3rd at 7:00 p.m. The USD-SDSU contest will be aired locally by Channel 4 San Diego with Chris Marlowe calling the play-by-play.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Media are welcome to attend all USD practices. USD's basic weekly schedule is 2 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (M-W-F) and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (T-TH). Times and site of practice are subject to change. To check times and site of practices, or to set up an interview with either a student-athlete or coach, please contact the Media Relations office at 619/260-4745.
A LOOK BACK: Last season the Toreros finished 18-12, won the West Coast Conference Tournament Championship with a 72-63 win over Gonzaga, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the program's first time in sixteen seasons ... the Toreros dropped a tough 77-69 decision to Stanford in the 1st round of the NCAA's played in Spokane, WA ... USD had the luxury of four seniors in the starting lineup that accounted for 73% of its scoring average of 75.5 ppg ... 6-10 center Jason Keep led the way with averages of 18.0 ppg an 9.1 rpg ... 6-8 forward Jason Blair wasn't far behind at 17.1 ppg and 7.4 rpg ... 6-2 guard Roy Morris chipped in 12.3 ppg and 6-2 point guard Matt Delzell added 8.0 ppg.
"TOREROS LINKING TO THE COMMUNITY" TOY DRIVE: The USD Student Athlete Council is proud to present the 1st annual "Toreros Linking to the Community" Toy Drive on Wednesday, December 3rd at the Torero men's basketball game versus San Diego State at 7 p.m. in the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the game which will be donated to the Mission Valley YMCA's Holiday Program to be given to a family in need in our community this holiday season. The Holiday Program is an annual event benefiting local families in need. The Torero Student Athlete Council is working in conjunction with the student-athlete council from San Diego State. Both councils are committed to supporting local San Diego YMCA Holiday Programs. The program allows for families throughout San Diego that are less fortunate or that have been affected by the San Diego wildfires to still have an enjoyable holiday season despite their misfortunes. As a community member, you can help the student-athlete councils in their joint-community service project by showing your support and bringing a toy to the December 3rd game. For more information, contact Shaney Fink at fink@sandiego.edu or 619.260.5931.
