Dec. 2, 2009
Box Score
San Diego, Calif.- The University of San Diego men's basketball team could not survive an overtime contest against San Diego State on Wednesday evening, falling 69-62 to the Aztecs at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The loss is USD's fourth-straight to their intra-city archrival.
The Toreros (4-3) were forced to dig themselves out of early holes at the beginning of both halves and the overtime period, missing six shots to open the game, eight to start the second-half, and taking until their fifth shot in overtime to successfully record a field goal.
USD was never able to make up for their errant shooting in the extra period, as the Aztecs (5-2) stretched their lead to 62-54 before De'Jon Jackson hit a three-pointer with 1:19 remaining in the game. The Aztecs went on to make five of their seven shots in overtime, while the Toreros hit 3-of-10.
The game was sent into overtime after Matt Dorr sunk a three from the top of the key with 3:22 remaining and placing USD in the lead 52-50. Tyrone Shelley tied it up at 52-52 with a jumper at 2:24, and neither team could take the deciding advantage in regulation. The Aztecs had the final possession of the game, but senior Brandon Johnson registered a steal, preventing San Diego State to get a shot off.
Johnson led the Toreros in scoring as he used 19 points after halftime to total 21 for the game. The 6-0 guard was 6-of-9 in field goal shooting in the final 25 minutes of play, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Dorr, with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and Jackson, with 10 points, were the only other Toreros with double-digit point totals.
The Toreros did not tally their first points in the game until the 14:56 mark, as Jackson hit a three-pointer from the right side to bring the score to 6-3. The Aztecs would eventually take a 15-7 lead after Chase Tapley scored on a fast-break lay-up with 10:16 left.
Dorr evened the score at 18-18 with an uncontested three-pointer with 5:43 remaining in the opening half, and Chris Lewis hit a three from the left side to allow USD to take its first lead of the game with five minutes left.
After starting the second half with a 28-27 lead, the Toreros allowed the Aztecs to erase the advantage with their poor shooting, as USD opened up the second half by missing their first eight shots. San Diego State used the USD cold streak to open up a 12-point lead after Tapley sunk a lay-up following a Jackson turnover.
Johnson took over for the Toreros, however, igniting a 21-8 stretch with his first three of the game at the 12:33 mark. The run for USD would go on to place them in the lead with 5:28 remaining after Johnson delivered a step-back three, setting the score at 49-48. Johnson was a perfect 5-for-5 in shooting during the stretch, adding three free throws to make up his 16 points in the seven minutes of play.
USD shot 34.4% (21-of-61) from the field for the game, while also going 11-of-25 from three-point range. The Aztecs out-rebounded the Toreros, 38-33. Clinton Houston had a game-high 11 boards for USD, including seven offensive.
The Toreros will begin their upcoming two-game road trip on Friday, December 4th when they will take on UC Riverside at 8 p.m. PT.
