Jan. 14, 2016 Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Toreros (6-10, 1-4) snapped a four game losing streak with an 82-71 win at Portland (8-11, 2-4) Thursday evening, securing their first WCC win of the season. Seniors Duda Sanadze (29 Points) and Jito Kok (17 Points) both notched career highs and the Toreros scored a season-best 82 points.
"It was one of our best games. I thought it was all triggered from our defensive effort," Head Coach Lamont Smith said after the game. "Portland averages ten threes a game, which is 15th in the country and we held them to 4-for-20. Tonight our shots fell and we really stayed within ourselves with our defensive plan. I'm really proud of our guys and how they competed to get our first true road win against a good team. I'm real excited about the win."
The Toreros had a slow start, committing six turnovers in the first six minutes as they fell behind 15-5 early. However, fueled by Duda Sanadze and stingy defense, USD would respond with an 18-2 run to open up a 23-17 lead with 7:30 left in the first half.
The Toreros closed out the half with strong defense, allowing the Pilots to make just two of their final 17 field goal attempts in the first half, taking a 35-28 lead into halftime while holding Portland to 30 percent shooting. USD shot 54 percent from the field in the first half, led by Sanadze's 14 points (5-7 shooting).
The Toreros' hot shooting continued early in the second frame. Back-to-back threes by Sanadze and Neubauer paced a 10-0 run, helping USD take a 47-34 lead with 15:20 remaining. The Toreros never surrendered the lead, going up by as much as 16 (61-45); the closest the Pilots would get was eight points (77-69).
Sanadze's 29 points came on 10-14 shooting, while Kok was 7-8 from the floor with a team-high seven rebounds. Sophomore Vasa Pusica continued his hot streak, recording 13 points while dishing out a game-high six assists.
Alec Wintering went 12-12 from the line and led the Pilots with 23 points (5-for-15). Bryce Pressley chipped in 20 points.
The Toreros shot a season-best 60 percent from the field, while holding the Pilots to 38 percent. The Toreros outrebounded Portland 38-25.
The Toreros' Northwest road trip continues Saturday when they play at No. 21 Gonzaga, who lost to BYU 69-68 Thursday evening, at 5:00 p.m. in Spokane, Wash.
