LAS VEGAS – Isaiah Pineiro scored a career-high 30 points to lead San Diego to an 82-75 victory against Washington State in the Las Vegas Classic semifinals on Saturday night at the Orleans Arena.
 
With the win, the Toreros (10-3) advance to the championship game on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. PT against Drake, which defeated New Mexico State earlier in the day.
 
USD led by as many as 12 points in the second half but watched the lead evaporate as the Cougars (7-4) tied the game at 74-74 with 2:29 to play.
 
Pineiro shut down any potential WSU thoughts of a comeback on the ensuing offensive possession when he drove through the lane and threw down an emphatic dunk through traffic. The dunk put the Toreros back up 76-74 and USD would not trail the remainder of the game.

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Pineiro added a free throw with 50 seconds remaining to get to a career-best 30 points. He was efficient, taking only 16 shots and going 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Pineiro was two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight.
 
Three additional Toreros reached double-digits in scoring, including Olin Carter III (18), Isaiah Wright (11) and Tyler Williams (10). Wright led the team with five assists.
 
Carter III has scored in double-digits in every game this year and moved into 10th place all-time in USD history in career points with 1,310. He passed Robert "Pinky" Smith (1971-74) who had 1,295 and is eight points shy of Ryan Williams (1994-99) in ninth place with 1,318.

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The Cougars were led offensively by Robert Franks with 22 points, followed by CJ Elleby with 13. WSU started the game hot and shot 70 percent or higher for a majority of the first half but cooled off in the second, converting at 43 percent.
 
Alex Floresca registered career highs in both rebounds (9) and assists (6). He provided an early spark in the second half when he made a great defensive play, meeting a Cougar at the rim on the defensive end with a block, then converted a layup on the ensuing offensive possession to put USD up, 52-45.
 
Joey Calcaterra provided quality minutes off the bench in the first half, entering the game and attacking the rim to produce five points on a pair of layups and a free throw.
 
The Toreros were excellent defensively and forced 16 WSU turnovers, turning them into 23 points. USD limited the Cougars to 2-of-10 shooting down the stretch and did not allow a field goal in the final 3:20.
 
USD has won two in a row and will look to continue its momentum Sunday against Drake.