Dec. 25, 2010
Box Score
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The University of San Diego Toreros finished up the Hawaiian Airlines Diamondhead Classic with a 67-64 win over the Utah University Running Utes on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center. San Diego was lead by Jordan Mackie's 14 points and improve to 3-10 overall. Utah falls to 7-6 on the season.
"I am very happy for this group of players," said head coach Bill Grier. "It's been hard and weighed on them. But what I told them after the game was that this showed that if you play hard and play together, this team is good enough to beat any team out there. You just have to play like it. The thing I was most pleased with this group today was that at 9 am Christmas morning we had tremendous energy. This is a terrific team win and very much needed. A big shot in the arm and something we can build on as we move forward."
The Toreros pulled away with a nine point lead in the middle of the first half putting together short runs here and there keeping USD far enough ahead to have a five point halftime lead 30-35. Mackie led the team with 11 points at the break and Darian Norris with eight. Devin Ginty had a pair of key three pointers while Norris was 1-1 from behind the arc.
San Diego returned in the second half with the same desire to win as they increased their lead to 12 in the first two minutes pulling ahead 44-32 off of a Ken Rancifer three pointer. Utah went on a 12-1 run tying up the game at 45-45 with 12:44 to go. The two teams would battle back and forth for the lead over the next four minutes. Utah would tie it up again at 58-58 with 3:59 remaining and again at 60-60 with 1:31 remaining.
Chris Manresa was fouled with 1:04 remaining as he sank both free throws giving USD a two point lead. Ginty put down a free throw with :26 seconds to take a 63-60 lead. Utah responded cutting the lead 63-62 and stopped play by fouling Ginty sending him to the free throw making both giving the Toreros a 65-62 lead. Utah would make a bucket on their end getting to within one again, 65-64. Utah fouled Ginty again sending him to the line making two more free throws as time ran out for the Utes giving San Diego the 67-64 win.
USD has a few days rest back in San Diego prior to their departure for the East Coast to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack on New Year's Day. The Toreros and Wolfpack will tip-off at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time on January 1, 2011.
