USDvsUSCgame1

GAME #1: The USD Toreros open up their 2015-16 regular-season schedule this Friday, November 13th, with a 5:00 p.m. road contest against the USC Trojans at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California.

SERIES RECORD: This will be the fifth meeting between USD and USC with the Trojans owning a 4-0 series advantage... It was adjusted to 3-0 after USC had to vacate their win from the 2007 season... Head-to-head results: 78-67 at USC (11-21-2000); 71-67 (ot) at Jenny Craig Pavilion (12-20-2001); 87-75 at San Diego Slam at SDSU Viejas Arena (12-11-2004); 60-50 at Anaheim Classic on Thanksgiving Day (11-23-2007).

RADIO/TV: All USD home and away games will be broadcast live on ESPN 1700AM with Jack Cronin (2nd season) bringing you all the action; his pre-game shows air 15 minutes prior to tip-off. The contest will also be televised on the Pac-12 Network (Josh Lewin and Ros Gold-Onwude).

WCC COACHES PRESEASON POLL: The Toreros were picked 9th in the 2015-16 WCC Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches Poll... Team (First Place Vote) - 1. Gonzaga (9), 81 points; 2. BYU (2), 73 points; 3. Pepperdine, 62 points; 4. Saint Mary's, 58 points; 5. Portland, 43 points; 6. Santa Clara, 37points; 7. Pacific, 32 points; 7. San Francisco, 32 points; 9. San Diego, 17 points; 10. Loyola Marymount, 15 points.

A LOOK AHEAD: Following Friday's game at USC the Toreros will head to the midwest where they will face Western Michigan on November 17th in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

COACH SMITH: Coach Lamont Smith (San Diego, 1998) is in his first head coaching position and comes from New Mexico where he was the Associate Head Coach... Prior to that he spent time at Washington, Arizona State, Santa Clara, Saint Mary's College and Saint Louis University... Smith returns to USD where he was a member of the men's basketball team from 1994-99... He started all 27 games his senior year in 1998-99 for the 18-9 Toreros... He was named the Toreros' Defensive Player of the Year in 1997 and 1999 and served as the team captain from 1997-99... Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of San Diego in 1998... Lamont and his wife Kimberly have two daughters -- Payton and Olivia.

NEW COACHING STAFF: Coach Smith welcomes three new assistant coaches - Russell Springmann (comes from the University of Texas), Sam Scholl (comes from Santa Clara University) and Chris Gerlufson (comes from Hartford University). Scholl returns to USD where he was a teammate of Coach Smith and following graduation was part of the USD basketball staff for seven seasons. Ryan Harbour returns for his third year as Director of Operations, while Da'Mon Perry enters his first year as Video Coordinator.

BAILEY AND PERRY COMPLETE UPPER CLASS: Joining Kok and Sanadaze as upper classmen are junior forward Brett Bailey (Spokane, Wash.) and redshirt junior center Brandon Perry (Fresno, Calif.)... Bailey, a third year performer, started 12 of 30 games he appeared in last season and finished with averages of 2.3 points and 2.6 rebounds... He turned in a solid 7 point/9 rebound effort in win over Princeton... Perry, who wrapped up his first year of competition with the Toreros, earned six starts in 29 games and finished with averages of 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds... His breakout game came at UCLA (12-7-14) with 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting; he matched his 16 point effort at LMU (2-5-15) when he made 7-of-12 shots.

SOPHOMORE QUARTET RETURN WITH EXPERIENCE: Four sophomores return that received experience in their first year - guard Vasa Pusica (Belgrade, Serbia), who averaged 4.6 points; guard Marcus Harris (San Antonio, TX), who averaged 3.3 points; forward Cameron Neubauer (Berlin, Germany), who averaged 2.1 points; and guard Khalil Bedart-Ghani (Inglewood, Calif.), who appeared in six games. Neubauer is expected to be out another five weeks with a fractured left arm with hopes of returning for the start of West Coast Conference play.

COACHING STAFF EXCITED WITH INCOMING CLASS: Coach Smith and his staff are excited by the five freshmen coming onboard this season... The three scholarship players include 6-5 guard Tyler Williams (Plano, TX), 6-2 combo guard Olin Carter III (Allen, TX), 6-3 guard, and 6-8 forward Alex Floresca (Webster Groves, MO)... They will be joined by walk-ons Hunter Summy (6-4 guard; Southlake, TX) and Christian Oshita (6-6 guard; Torrance, CA).

KEY LOSSES FROM 2014-15 CLUB: Four seniors (Johnny Dee, Christopher Anderson, Thomas Jacobs, Simi Fajemisin) and a redshirt junior (Chris Sarbaugh) have moved on... Combined they accounted for 55.4% of last year's scoring... Dee was a two-time All-WCC First Team selection and left as the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,046 points... Anderson left as the program's all-time leader in assists (757) and steals (254)... Dee (17.0 ppg), Anderson (7.7 ppg) and Jacobs (6.7 ppg) were the team's top three scorers a year ago.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR USD-SDSU DEC. 5TH GAME AT PETCO PARK: Tickets are now available to the public for the USD-SDSU game on December 5th at Petco Park. Tickets can be purchased online at padres.com/bball, by phone (619-795-555) or by visiting the Petco Park box office. Additionally, from Nov. 30 through Dec. 5, the Bill Walton Basketball Festival will be held at Petco's grounds as well. For season tickets to USD Basketball, please visit usdtoreros.com.

TOREROS DOWN CALTECH IN EXHIBITION: The USD men's basketball team dealt the visiting Caltech Beavers a 95-42 defeat before 1,014 fans at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on November 7th. All twelve Toreros that suited up scored at least four points with four players reaching double digits. Freshman guard Olin Carter III led the squad with 13 points and was followed by Marcus Harris (12 points), Duda Sanadze (11 points) and Vasa Pusica (10 points). USD was also bolstered by the play of senior center Jito Kok who scored 8 points, but chipped in with game highs of 12 rebounds and 6 blocked shots. In addition to his 10 points, Pusica contributed 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Junior forward Brett Bailey had a solid performance with 8 points and 7 rebounds, while freshman walk-on Christian Oshita tallied 9 points in sixteen minutes of action. Sophomore guard Khalil Bedart-Ghani added 6 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. USD held a 43-23 halftime edge and dominated second half play by outscoring the Beavers 52-19. Caltech was paced Kc Emezie (14 points) and Ricky Galliani (13 points). As a team the Toreros shot 42.7% from the floor (35-82), 28.6% from three-point range (8-28) and 73.9% from the free throw line (17-23).

FOUR TORERO GAMES TO BE TELEVISED ON FOX SPORTS SAN DIEGO: FOX Sports San Diego (FSSD) today announced plans to broadcast four USD games within their college basketball schedule including the Dec. 5th University of San Diego vs. San Diego State matchup, which will be the first college basketball game to be played at Petco Park. Long-time sports broadcaster Eddie Doucette returns this season to call play-by-play for five of the seven FOX Sports San Diego college basketball telecasts. Doucette will be accompanied by former USD Toreros head coach Brad Holland in the analyst slot. On Dec. 5, the Aztecs and Toreros will meet to face off during the Bill Walton Basketball Festival at Petco Park. The crosstown rivals will battle it out on an outdoor court to be built on the ballpark's infield near home plate at Petco Park. Former NESN play-by-play announcer and future Padres broadcaster, Don Orsillo will make his FOX Sports San Diego debut to call play-by-play for the outdoor matchup. Holland will assume the analyst role and former Torero J.T. Rogan will report from the sidelines. Additionally, Mike Pomeranz will serve as pre -- postgame host.

"We're excited to present our Fall College basketball schedule, and include our premier local teams in San Diego State University and University of San Diego," said Henry Ford, Senior Vice President and General Manager. "This season will include the inaugural year of the Bill Walton Basketball Festival that features USD and SDSU on the hardwood at Petco Park. This game will be a special treat for San Diegans and alumni and fans of both schools."

USD Men's Basketball Games on FOX Sports San Diego:
• Dec. 5 2:00 PM San Diego vs. San Diego State (From Petco Park)
• Jan. 7 7:00 PM San Francisco at San Diego
• Feb. 4 7:00 PM Pacific at San Diego
• Feb. 6 6:00 PM Saint Mary's at San Diego