PORTLAND – Isaiah Wright returned to San Diego's lineup to spark one of the Toreros most impressive victories of the season as they defeated Portland 76-55 on Thursday night.
 
After missing the previous four games due to a wrist injury, Wright returned to the court and helped guide USD (13-6, 2-2 WCC) to a balanced and dominating performance. He racked up 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
 
Eight Toreros contributed points and four scored in double-digits. Jose Martinez came off the bench to lead USD with 15 points – tying his season high.
 
Joey Calcaterra made his first collegiate start and made the most of it by registering career highs in points (11) and rebounds (5). He got going early and ensured USD never trailed the Pilots (7-12, 0-4 WCC), connecting on a pair of 3-pointers for the Toreros first six points of the game.
 
Isaiah Pineiro recorded his sixth double-double of the season and third in the past four games with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Andrew Ferguson contributed a strong game off the bench with eight points, including knocking down a pair of three pointers.
 
The Toreros' bench outscored Portland's 32-25 on the night. It was just the sixth time this season USD's bench outscored its opponents' and the Toreros improved to 5-1 in those games.
 
The Toreros were excellent on the defensive end, holding Portland to 31 percent shooting on the night, including a 27 percent clip in the second half. The Pilots' Marcus Shaver Jr. produced 21 points but he was the only Portland player to reach double-digits in scoring.
 
USD held a 37-23 edge in defensive rebounds and a 46-30 advantage overall on the night.

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The Toreros opened the game on a 16-3 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Wright with 14:08 remaining in the first half. USD led by as many as 21 in the opening stanza when Ferguson converted a hook shot underneath the basket to put the Toreros up 34-13 with 4:46 to play.
 
However, Portland chipped away at its deficit and finished the half on a 7-0 run over the final 1:21 to cut the Toreros lead to 38-28.
 
After a sloppy start to the second half by the Toreros allowed Portland to pull within eight points, USD went on a 23-3 run to take a commanding 63-35 lead with 8:51 to play.
 
The Toreros would lead by at least 21 points the remainder of the game.
 
USD will look to continue its momentum Saturday at 6 p.m. PT when it travels to Saint Mary's.