Nov. 25, 2011
Final Stats
(New Orleans, LA) - The USD Toreros improved to 3-1 on the young season with tonight's 64-56 win over the University of New Orleans (3-3) in the first of three games in the Hoops for Hope Classic. Junior forwards Ken Rancifer and Chris Manresa each tallied double-doubles in points and rebounds to help offset 24 turnovers by the Toreros. Rancifer scored a team-high 14 points to go with a career-best 11 rebounds, while Manresa notched his fourth straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
"At the end of the day we won the game, and that's the most important thing," said USD head coach Bill Grier. "I think we found a way to win despite not playing particularly well offensively and having so many turnovers. Their (New Orleans) quickness and pressure had us rattled and we tried to go too much on our own rather than executing and making the extra pass. Part of that is inexperience, and part of that is a credit to them and their pressure. It was good for our guys to learn how to win a game like that."
New Orleans fielded a very athletic and quick ball club that extended their defensive pressure and caused the young Toreros to speed up their play. With the score knotted at 29-all by intermission, USD already had turned the ball over 14 times. They connected on 50% of their shots in the first 20 minutes to help their cause with Rancifer leading the way with 11 points and 6 points.
UNO's Antonio Wertz connected on a three-pointer to open the second half that gave the Privateers a 32-29 edge, but a Dennis Kramer dunk followed by a Chris Manresa layup put the Toreros ahead 33-32 and USD would not lose their lead the rest of the way. The game stayed close through the first 10 minutes of the second half with the Toreros owning a 50-47 lead with 8:22 to go. Over the next 4:02 USD went on a 9-2 run that was started with a three-point play by Simi Fajemisin (8 points). Over the final four minutes the closest UNO would get is 7 points.
Nine different Toreros scored points with Darian Norris (10 points, 4 assists), Johnny Dee (9 points) and Fajemisin also playing key offensive roles. USD outrebounded the smaller Privateers, 46-29, but struggled from the free throw line (15-27; 55.6%).
The Toreros will take on Alcorn State tomorrow at 2:30 p.m., and close out the weekend with Tulane on Sunday in a 4:00 p.m. (PST) contest at the New Orleans Arena.
