Box Score

USDvsUSF2016

SAN DIEGO -- Despite a career-best 19 points from sophomore guard Vasa Pusica, and 15 points and 4 blocks from senior center Jito Kok, the USD Toreros dropped a hard-fought 73-65 contest to the visiting USF Dons. San Francisco received a game-high 22 points from guard Ronnie Boyce off the bench, and 16 points and 6 assists from guard Devin Watson. USD returns to the JCP Saturday to face Santa Clara in a 7:00 p.m. contest.

USD (5-9, 0-3 WCC) was without the services of leading scorer Duda Sanadze who sat out due to illness. Pusica was inserted into the starting lineup and made 5-14 shots overall and was a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. Kok made 5-7 shots from the field and matched his career-high of 15 points set twice before.

In the first half the USF Dons converted 52.0% of their shots (13-25) and 57.1% from beyond the three-point arc (4-7) in taking a 31-24 intermission lead. USF would extend their lead to 40-29 on a Boyce three with 16:36 left, but the Toreros would rally to pull within four points twice, the last time at 49-45 with 10:06 to play on a Pusica lay-in.

Once again the Dons would pull ahead and go up by as many as 14 (67-53) with 4:45 to go, only to see the Toreros storm back down the stretch and get within five (70-65) with 47 seconds to go following two Pusica free throws. From there USD would miss their final five shots of the game, with four coming behind the three-point arc. USF would add three free throws in the final 32 seconds to ice the game.

For the game USF (9-6, 3-2 WCC) out-rebounded USD 38-33, and had four players reach double-digit scoring. The Dons made 8-14 threes for the game (57.1%) and 26-56 shots overall (46.4%). USD struggled from the field (20-58), but made a season-best 95.5% from the free throw line (21-22).