Final Stats

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Toreros (5-5) snapped their three game losing streak with a 79-65 win at UC Santa Barbara Thursday evening. It was USD's first win at UCSB's Thunderdome since the 1996-97 season (72-70 USD). The Toreros shot 71 percent from three-point range (10 for 14), helping them hold a lead for nearly all 40 minutes as they notched one of their biggest road wins in recent history.

"This is as good of a road win as we've had, in the fashion we did it, since the win at Kentucky seven years ago," Head Coach Bill Grier said after the game.

Johnny Dee led all scorers with 22 points, moving past Gyno Pomare for second place on the USD career scoring list. With 1,727 points Dee is now 64 points away from holding the USD all-time record. Christopher Anderson scored a season-high 17 points while dishing out a team-high six assists. Freshman Vasa Pusica chipped in ten first half points and tallied four assists. The Toreros had 12 players see the floor with nine players scoring.

"We got a lot of contributions from everyone and that's what was great," Grier said. "We shot free throws exceptionally well, and we out rebounded them. This team that we beat tonight is a very good basketball team."

After Jito Kok hit a jumper with 14:45 left in the first half to give USD a 10-9 lead; the Toreros would hold the lead for the rest of the game. A 7-0 run in the final two minutes of the first half gave the Toreros a 41-26 lead going into the locker room at halftime.

The USD lead would grow to as many as 17, but the Gauchos were able to close the gap to eight points with 1:09 left. However, the Toreros went 8-for-8 from the line down the stretch to seal the win.

UCSB had four players score in double figures, led by Alan Williams' 18 points. Michael Bryson and Gabe Vincent each chipped in 13 points with John Green scoring ten.

The Toreros return to the JCP on Saturday December 13 for their first home game since November 24 when they host New Orleans at 7:30 p.m.