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USD vs GU Box Feb 22

SAN DIEGO â€" For the second time this season the USD Toreros battled nationally ranked Gonzaga to the very end in a close loss. Despite a game-high 21 points from Olin Carter III, the Toreros were dealt a 77-72 loss by the No. 6 Bulldogs. Isaiah Wright and Isaiah Pineiro chipped in 14 points each and freshman Yauhen Massalski finished with a solid effort with 11 points and 7 rebounds.

"We've proven we can play with everybody in our league, we just need to get over the hump," said head coach Lamont Smith. "I thought the difference was they went inside with their big guys and we didn't have an answer for that. Down the stretch Rui (Hachimura) made to back-to-the-basket plays and that is what makes them so tough. They can hurt you with their threes and also hurt you inside. Olin came up with some big shots at the end and that is something he has done for us over his three years in already scoring over 1,000 points. I'm proud of our kids. They fought and fought and we just need to learn how to cut out some critical mistakes."

Midway through the first half the Toreros (17-12, 8-9 WCC) found themselves trailing by six (17-11) with 11:11 to go. A three-point play by Massalski pulled USD to within 21-20 with 7:44 left. A three by Carter would knot the score at 27-all and he would add two more in giving USD a 33-30 advantage with 3:23 left. The Toreros would edge ahead by five on two occasions, the last coming with 1:18 to go on a Massalski lay-in. Johnathan Williams would convert a three-pointer before the halftime buzzer as the Toreros took a 37-34 intermission lead.

Early in the second half the Toreros extended their lead to eight points (44-36) at the 18:04 mark on a jumper by Pineiro. A three-pointer from Isaiah Wright with 14:57 left gave USD a 51-55 lead, but the Zags answered with an 8-0 run to get back the lead at 52-51 with 10:30 to go. A jumper by Carter gave USD the lead back and they would hold it until a three-point play inside from Zach Norvell, Jr. with 4:47 to go that made it 57-56.

Over the final 4:14 of the game, Rui Hachimura was the difference maker as he scored 10 points down the stretch. Olin Carter would connect on his fourth and fifth three-pointers in the final 30 seconds to keep USD's hopes alive, but the Zags made their final seven attempts from the free throw line to hold off the Toreros.

For Gonzaga (26-4, 16-1 wCC), Hachimura scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench. Killian Tillie scored a team-best 17 points and added 6 rebounds. The Zags shot 55.0% from the field in the second half and made 18-of-21 free throws over the final 20 minutes of action.

USD heads to the airport in the morning for their final regular-season game at USF on Saturday (7pm).