Final Stats

USD vs NT Box

SAN DIEGO â€" The USD Toreros dropped an 86-83 overtime decision to the visiting North Texas Mean Green in in up-and-down game before 1,419 fans at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Junior guard Tyler Williams paced five Toreros in double digit scoring with 18 points, but North Texas received a big game from guard Roosevelt Smart who made some tough shots on his way to a game-high 31 points. San Diego falls to 8-3 on the season while the Mean Green improved to 7-5.

"Give credit to North Texas and their coaching staff," said head coach Lamont Smith. "I thought when Olin hit the three that sent us into overtime, that it breathed some new life into us. We just didn't get the job done defensively tonight to get a win."

Through the first ten minutes of the game the Toreros led 18-14 following a three-point play by Isaiah Pineiro who was leading the way with eight points. Three-pointers from Cameron Neubauer and Olin Carter III would push USD's lead to 24-17 with 8:19 to go. Two free throws from Juwan Gray gave the Toreros a 30-26 cushion when the 4-minute media timeout rolled around. North Texas took a 37-35 lead into halftime behind 11 points from guard Roosevelt Smart (3-5 in threes). Isaiah Wright matched Pineiro's eight points with Neubauer chipping in 6 points.

After the break North Texas quickly jumped out to a 43-37 lead before Pineiro banked in a shot and converted the free throw after being fouled with 16-22 to go to make it 43-40. The Mean Green would answer with six straight points to lead by nine, but Juwan Gray would bury a three from the left corner to make it 49-43. With 11:31 to go the Toreros trailed by four at 53-49 before Yauhen Massalski came out of the media timeout and converted the first of two charities.

A Tyler Williams three from the left wing pulled USD to with one at 54-53, but Shane Temara answered for North Texas with his own three ball. The Mean Green scored their next three buckets driving hard to the basket with the last one coming from Smart to put them back up by six at 63-57 with 8:10 to go. Two straight free throws from Massalski followed by a breakaway slam dunk from Pineiro pulled USD to within 63-61 with 6:44 to go. North Texas would edge ahead again by six at 69-63 following a basket and free throw from Ryan Woolridge. Williams would convert on a driving lay-in, but North Texas would just beat the shot clock buzzer on a driving lay-in from Smart to push it to 71-65 with 2:49 to go.

The Toreros trailed 77-72 with 28 seconds left, but Isaiah Wright canned two free throws and then Olin Carter knotted the score at 77-all with a three-pointer with 18 ticks left. In the overtime North Texas led 85-81 with 12 seconds to go, by Williams cashed in on two free throws to pull within two with six seconds to go. DJ Draper made one free throw for the three-point lead, but with three seconds left and North Texas trying to inbound near the USD bench, Yauhen Massalski deflected the inbound pass and collected it and got off a three-point attempt that was off the mark to end the game.

North Texas turned in a solid night of shooting as they made 29-60 shots overall (48.3%), 8-19 three-pointers (42.1%) and 20-26 free throws (76.9%). Following Williams in the double-digit scoring column was Isaiah Pineiro (15 points), Juwan Gray (14), Isaiah Wright (12), and Carter (11). USD shot 42.6% from the field (23-54) and 32.1% beyond the arc (9-28). The Toreros were solid at the free throw line making 28-32 (87.5%).

USD is off now until Friday, December 22nd, when they host Life Pacific College in a 7:00 p.m. contest.