Dec. 13, 2010
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The USD Toreros (2-8) snapped their 8-game skid with a convincing 82-57 win over the University of La Verne (3-4) at the Jenny Craig Pavilion this evening. Five Toreros reached double digit scoring with a trio of starters leading the way with 14 points each. Sophomore center Chris Gabriel scored a season-best 14 points while totaling a season-high 23 minutes of action. He was joined by Ken Rancifer and Darian Norris in the 14-point club. Jordan Mackie came off the bench to score a personal-best 13 points as he connected on 5-of-6 shots, and Matt Dorr contributed 12 points in the winning cause.
Gabriel opened the game by scoring the contest's first nine points giving the Toreros a 9-0 lead that lasted until La Verne's Austin Napolitano hit a jump shot at the 14:15 mark. It marked Gabriel's second straight game with a quick start - he scored USD's first 6 points at San Diego State this past Saturday. With the Toreros leading 13-5 with 12:18 to play in the first half, La Verne's Brett Stephan hit a free throw followed by a jumper that started a 6-0 La Verne run that put the score at 13-11 at the 8:49 mark.
Torero freshman forward Trevor Fuller responded by slicing along the baseline for a two-handed dunk that put the Toreros up three. However, La Verne quickly answered as Trevor Woodland connected from beyond the arc for the only Leopard three pointer of the half that brought La Verne within one at 15-14 with 8:09 left on the clock.
USD never relinquished the lead. Instead they stretched their lead to eight on a Jordan Mackie free throw that gave the Toreros a 26-18 advantage with 2:54 to play in the half. Napolitano and Woodland knocked down back-to-back jumpers, pulling La Verne within four, 26-22 at the 1:10 mark, but Darian Norris' three with just over a minute left gave the Toreros a 29-22 halftime lead.
It was all USD in the second half as the Toreros outscored the Leopards 53-35. USD's biggest lead was 32 points twice, the last with 3:25 to go as Matt Dorr connected on a three-pointer for an 80-48 advantage. From their La Verne closed out the contest on a 9-2 run for the final 82-57 score.
For the game USD shot 47.3% from the field (26-55), 56.3% from beyond the arc (9-16) and a solid 80.8% from the charity stripe (21-26). La Verne was paced by guard Trevor Woodland with 16 points.
The Toreros are off the rest of the week with finals. They'll be back in action on Dec. 22nd when they take on 9th-ranked Baylor in the first round of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
