Final Stats

BOULDER, Colo. - San Diego cemented its best start to a season in program history, improving to 8-2, with a gritty 69-59 victory at Colorado on Tuesday night.

The Toreros have won eight of their first 10 games for the first time since becoming a Division-I program in 1979-80.

"It feels really good," said head coach Lamont Smith of the team's start. "I'm proud of these guys who have been in our program, who believed in us, our system and each other. And looking in their eyes and knowing they're not satisfied is really refreshing."

Four Toreros scored in double-digits, led by a 20-point performance by Isaiah Wright. Tyler Williams tied his season-high of 13 points, while Isaiah Pineiro and Olin Carter III added 10 apiece. Juwan Gray chipped in a season-high eight points.

"If we all play the right way, everybody eats," said Smith. "I thought Juwan Gray was outstanding. He played his best collegiate game tonight and was active all over the floor."

Highlights from San Diego's win at Colorado. (via Pac-12 Network)

USD's defense continued its excellent start to the season, holding the Buffaloes (7-3) to 25.9 percent shooting from the field and 3-of-18 (16.7 percent) from three-point range.

The Toreros were clutch down the stretch at the free-throw line, hitting 11 of their final 12 attempts in the final two minutes. Williams was particularly impressive, going 8-for-8 of his free throws in the final five minutes of the game.

"We have confidence from going on the road and winning games earlier this year," said Smith. "We knew Colorado was going to come out punching in the second half and the question was could we withstand that and punch back? It's a testament of our growth of a team to continue to punch back and remain poised and make plays down the stretch."

It was a streaky game for both teams as each side battled through scoring droughts.

The Toreros defense started well early, forcing Colorado to go 1-of-11 in the first 4:20 minutes of the game. USD held the Buffaloes scoreless for another four-minute stretch midway through the half and took advantage, taking a 17-13 lead with 10:21 to play in the half.

However, USD faced its own scoreless stretch and went 0-for-9 from the field during a six-minute span near the end of the half. The Toreros snapped the drought when it broke a full-court press by Colorado and Juwan Gray finished an emphatic alley-oop off a lob by Pineiro.

USD finished the half on a 7-0 run to take a 29-21 lead into halftime.

The Toreros picked up where it left off in the second half, opening the second stanza with a 13-5 run to extend its lead to 42-26 with 16:12 to play.

The Buffaloes would not go away, however, and went on a 15-7 run, which was capped by an 8-0 stretch, to cut USD's lead to 49-44 with 7:10 to play. The Toreros also ran into a bit of foul trouble with 9:55 to play, as Williams picked up his fourth foul and Wright and Pineiro were playing with three.

The Toreros were able to halt Colorado's rally and stretched its lead back out to 12 on a layup by Pineiro with 2:58 to play.

USD sealed the victory by hitting 11 of its final 12 free throws.

The Toreros return home Saturday to play host to North Texas at 7:30 p.m. PT.