Nov. 17, 2007
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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Junior forward Gyno Pomare recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the University of San Diego men's basketball team (2-1) dropped their first game of the season, 66-55, to UNLV (4-0) Saturday evening in a non-conference game at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Pomare scored his 23 points on a 8-for-15 performance from the field and was the only player in the game with double-digit rebounds. Both Brandon Johnson and Trumaine Johnson added in eight points a piece and Ray Murdock had seven points. As a team, the Toreros were out rebounded 66-55 and shot 36 percent from the field.
In the early going, the two teams were even, then with 16:45 remaining in the first half and the score knotted at 4-4, the Rebels went on a 9-2 run, sparked by a pair of Corey Bailey free throws and capped by a Rene Rougeau jumper.
San Diego then responded with an 11-6 run of their own to pull back to within four at 19-15. The Toreros' run was sparked by a Brandon Johnson jumper and capped by a Pomare jumper. UNLV then went on a 8-2 run to regain the momentum and take a 27-17 lead with 4:36 remaining. San Diego was able to bring the gap back down to under double figures going into the break with a 31-22 deficit.
In the second half, USD came out firing on all cylinders as back-to-back jumpers by Chris Lewis and Pomare along with a three-pointer by Murdock pulled the Toreros back to within four at 33-29 and the Torero fans were in a frenzy.
The Rebels were then able to push their lead back to double figures as they went on a 13-4 run to move the score to 46-33 with 13:19 remaining. Both teams then went ice cold from the field with USD not hitting a bucket for the next eight minutes, and during this same stretch, the Rebels only managed to hit one basket themselves.
After a media timeout with 7:59 remaining and the score at 49-35 in favor of UNLV, the two teams broke out of the shooting slump and traded baskets for the next several minutes with UNLV maintaining at least a 10-point margin.
USD could come no close then eight points for the remainder of the way, as the Rebels held on to win 66-55.
The Toreros will return to action on Monday as they host cross-town rival San Diego State University in a 7 p.m. Game at the Jenny Craig pavilion.
