Feb. 26, 2011
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif.- The University of San Diego men's basketball team fell to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the regular season finale on Saturday evening from the Jenny Craig Pavilion by a score of 68-31. The Toreros (6-23, 2-12 WCC) were led by sophomore forward Ken Rancifer's 13 points, while the Bulldogs (21-9, 11-3 WCC) won their sixth game in a row and clinched at least a share of the West Coast Conference regular season title.
Rancifer was 5-9 from the field on the night, while adding four rebounds and two steals. Fellow sophomore forward Chris Manresa had seven points on the night, including a thunderous put back dunk in the game's opening minutes, and contributed a team-best six rebounds. Senior Ryan Harbour, making his first start of the season on senior night after missing the majority of the year with a knee injury, pitched in with three points and some solid support on the defensive end.
The Bulldogs were led by Elias Harris' 17 points and nine rebounds, while Robert Sacre posted a 16-point night and Marquise Carter added nine points and five steals.
The Toreros, who shot 25.5% (12-47) on the night, struggled to make shots early as the Bulldogs held USD scoreless for 10 minutes following Manresa's dunk to open the game. Rancifer broke the scoring drought with his only three of the night at the 10:15 mark, but by that time Gonzaga had built up a 17-5 lead. Rancifer would score six Torero points in a row, which helped USD cut the lead to 11 at 19-8, however that would be the closest the Toreros would get for the remainder of the contest. The Bulldogs wound up with a 37-19 lead at the half.
Gonzaga opened the second half with an 11-1 to run that put them up 48-20 with 12:50 remaining until Manresa connected on a jumper at 12:24. Gonzaga would go on to stretch their lead over the half to the ultimate 68-31 final.
USD will prepare for the WCC tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. with their opening round contest slated for Friday, March 4th at the Orleans Arena. The Toreros enter the tourney as the league's No. 7 seed, and will face No. 6 seed Pepperdine in the late contest (approximately 8:30 pm).
