Box Score

USDvsDENbox

SAN DIEGO -- Despite a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) from junior forward Brett Bailey, the Toreros (3-6) were dealt a 59-47 loss by the visiting Denver Pioneers (6-3) at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Senior center Jito Kok chipped in with 9 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore guard Vasa Pusica added 11 points off the bench. USD, which saw its three-game winning streak snapped, struggled in the shooting department making just 18-of-57 shots, and 4-of-25 from beyond the three-point arc.

Denver, which runs the disciplined Princeton offense, used a variety of ways to score on the Toreros with three-pointers, back door cuts for lay-ins and even hook shots from a variety of players. The Pioneers' leading scorers came off the bench -- Nate Engesser (12 points) and Jake Holtzmann (11 points).

After trailing 25-19 at the intermission break, USD got within 27-25 with 17:05 to go on a Duda Sanadze bucket. A little over three minutes later the Toreros trailed 35-27 following a three-point play by DU's Christian Mackey. From there the closest USD would get is seven points (49-42) with 4:28 to go, but Denver would inch back into a double-digit lead for the majority of the game down the stretch.

The Toreros will try to regroup and get ready for UC Davis (4-3) next Tuesday, December 15th for a 7:30 p.m. contest. UC Davis won the 2015 Big West Conference Championship and advanced to the NIT.