Box Score

(San Diego, Calif.) - The USD Toreros dropped a hard-fought 61-58 decision to the visiting Portland Pilots (10-3, 1-0 WCC) in tonight's league opener for both teams. Pilot guard Alec Wintering connected on a three-pointer from the right wing with three-tenths of a second to go for the game-winner that capped off a 9-0 Pilot run to end the game. USD (7-6, 0-1) saw its 3-game winning streak come to an end and they return Monday night to face the No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs (12-1, 1-0 WCC) in an 8:00 p.m. contest.

The Toreros trailed 29-27 at the intermission break and then saw Portland extend that lead to 34-29 in the opening minutes of the second half. Behind the play of point guard Christopher Anderson, forward Thomas Jacobs and guard Johnny Dee, the Toreros would eventually build up a 58-52 lead with 2:47 to go. However it was all Portland down the stretch as they scored the game's final nine points to win their first overtime contest of the season in three tries.

Anderson finished with a game-high 14 points to with 5 rebounds and 5 steals. Jacobs (12 points, 6 rebounds) and Dee (11 points, 9 coming in the second half) also reached double-digits. Starting guard Chris Sarbaugh chipped in with 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

The Pilots, who earlier this season had dropped overtime contests to Oregon State and UNLV, were paced by forward Volodymyr Gerun with 13 points and 14 rebounds. D'Marques Tyson (13 points), Bryce Pressley (11 points) and Alec Wintering (10 points) also reached double-digits. Both teams managed to shoot around 37% from the field and USD edged the Pilots on the boards, 42-41. USD managed to connect on just 1-of-9 three-pointers while the Pilots buried 8-of-14 from beyond the arc.