OXFORD, Miss. – San Diego cut a 16-point second-half deficit to five points in the final minute but could not complete the comeback, falling 93-86 to Ole Miss on Wednesday evening at The Pavilion.
 
After a balanced first half, the Rebels (4-2) caught fire in the second half, hitting on each of their first five shots. Ole Miss shot 72 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range in the second half. They finished at 61 percent on the night from the field.
 
The Toreros (5-2) did their best to keep pace and converted on 49 percent of their shots in the second half which set them up for a late rally.
 
Trailing by 16 with 4:35 to play in the half, USD continued to battle and chipped away at the Rebels lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Isaiah Wright and Olin Carter III made it a 10-point game with 2:29 to play, 79-69.
 
Wright finished the game with a team-high 22 points and Carter III contributed 19.
 
Carter III continued his clutch play late with four consecutive free throws to cur USD's deficit to 81-75 with 1:13 to play.
 
The Toreros applied a full-court press to increase pressure on the Rebels offense and generated a turnover with 23 seconds to play. Wright made the most of it and drilled a 3-pointer from roughly six feet behind the top of the arc to make it a five-point game, 89-84.
 
USD was unable to generate an additional turnover and the Rebels hit their final four free throws to seal the decision.
 
Along with Wright's 22 points and Carter III"s 19, Pineiro contributed 21 with 17 of those coming in the first half. Pineiro was limited throughout the game due to foul trouble and fouled out of the game with 1:39 to play.
 
Alex Floresca played a season-high 36 minutes and contributed a career-high five assists. He tied his season high of five rebounds.
 
The Toreros played a majority of the game without starting center, Yauhen Massalski, who left the game early in the first half with an injury. Ole Miss capitalized on his absence and out-rebounded USD, 33-26. The Rebels are the only team to out-rebound the Toreros in both halves.
 
USD will look to get back on track Saturday at 7 p.m. PT when it plays host to Long Beach State.