Box Score

(San Diego, Calif.) - The USD Toreros snapped their 3-game skid with an impressive 77-74 home win over the BYU Cougars in front of 2,463 fans at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Senior forward Thomas Jacobs poured in a career-high 19 points and matched his career-high of 13 rebounds. Senior guard Johnny Dee added 18 points as USD has now won three of their last four against BYU.

"Our guys have played their tails off and really competed all season," said Bill Grier. "We've scratched and fought but struggled offensively of late and dropped some close ones. BYU, with Haws and Collinsworth, is really talented. It was great to see our guys close this one out."

BYU (15-7, 5-4 WCC) came into the contest as the nation's top team in scoring at 86.5 points per game. The Torero defense held them to 74 while getting untracked themselves offensively and cracking the 60-point barrier for the first time in WCC play this season. Guard Tyler Haws, the nation's second leading scorer, finished with 20 points and converted 10-11 free throws.

In the first half the Toreros jumped out to a 20-13 lead on a three-pointer from Vasa Pusica with 11:04 to go. From there the Cougars went on a 12-3 run to take a 25-23 advantage with 6:16 left. They would extend their lead to as many as eight but a couple of Brandon Perry baskets in the final two minutes helped USD close to within five at the half, 38-33.

In the second half BYU was up 61-54 with 6:50 to when USD put together a 7-0 run to tie it up. Dee hit a three, Marcus Harris cashed in on two free throws off a flagrant one foul, and Jacobs knotted the score with a dunk at 61-all. Two free throws by Perry tied the game again at 63-all, and a Vasa Pusica bucket put USD ahead for good with 3:53 to go. USD would go up by as many as seven (71-64) and then hold off a furious BYU rally that involved fouls and free throws. The Toreros made 8-of-10 free throws in the closing minutes .

Besides Jacobs and Dee, the Toreros (10-11, 3-6 WCC) received solid play from Chris Anderson (5 points, 7 assists, 2 steals), Vasa Pusica (9 points) and Brandon Perry (8 points, 5 rebounds). A total team effort, the Toreros shot 43.3% from the field (26-60) and matched BYU on the boards, 39-all.

The Toreros continue this three-game homestand with games against Santa Clara (Thur., Jan. 29, 7pm) and San Francisco (Sat., Jan. 31, 5pm).