San Diego (13-6, 2-2 WCC)
Saint Mary's (12-7, 3-1 WCC)
McKeon Pavilion • Moraga, Calif. • 6 p.m. PT
Television • NBC Sports Bay Area / TheW.tv |
Radio • ESPN 1700AM App |
Live Statistics • USDToreros.com
Social • Twitter.com/USDMBB • Instagram.com/USDMBB
SAN DIEGO – San Diego will pursue its first victory in Moraga since 2007 when it travels to Saint Mary's on Saturday at 6 p.m. PT.
The Toreros (13-6, 2-2 WCC) are coming off of one of their most impressive and balanced victories of the season after defeating Portland 76-55. The Gaels (12-7, 3-1 WCC) have won three in a row and earned a convincing win against Santa Clara, 75-55.
The game will be televised on NBC Sports Bay Area and live streamed on TheW.tv with Glen Kuiper (play-by-play) and Dan Belluomini (analyst) on the call. Jack Cronin will have the radio broadcast on the ESPN 1700AM app. Live statistics will be available via USDToreros.com.
LAST TIME OUT
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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 this past Thursday night.
• After missing the previous four games due to a wrist injury, Wright returned to the court and helped guide USD 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.
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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.
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Isaiah Pineiro recorded his sixth double-double of the season and third in the past four games with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
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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.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. SAINT MARY'S
• USD is 36-50 all-time against the Gaels with its most recent victory coming on Jan. 30, 2014, when the Toreros earned a 61-43 victory in San Diego. USD all-time scoring leader, Johnny Dee, led the team with 17 points, followed by 14 apiece by Dennis Kramer and Duda Sanadze.
• The Toreros were edged 65-62 in the most recent meeting between the programs on Feb. 3, 2018.
PINEIRO AND CARTER III LEAD THE WAY
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Isaiah Pineiro has led the Toreros in scoring in 10-of-19 games and
Olin Carter III has led USD in six games.
• Pineiro is averaging 19.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Pineiro is shooting 52 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range.
• Pineiro has registered double-doubles in four of the past five games (vs. Grand Canyon, at Santa Clara, vs. Pacific, at Portland) from Jan. 3-18. He averaged 17.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game during that five-game span.
• Carter III is averaging 16.5 points per game and is shooting 47 percent from the field. He has been one of USD's most dangerous shooter from behind the arc, connecting on 34 percent of his 3-point attempts. Carter III is also contributing 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
• Carter III left the game against Pepperdine (Jan. 12) midway through the second half due to an abdomen injury. His playing status is day-to-day.
WRIGHT RETURNS
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Isaiah Wright returned to the lineup against Portland (Jan. 17) after missing four games due to a wrist injury sustained during Toreros game against Drake (Dec. 23). Wright was excellent in his return, recording 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
• Wright started the season well but began gaining steam before his injury. During a nine-game stretch from Nov.24-Dec. 23, he was shooting 46 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, and averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
• Wright is contributing 13.0 points, 4.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game on the season.
NUMBERS UP FOR MASSALSKI
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Yauhen Massalski increased nearly every offensive and defensive numbers through the first six games this season. He was averaging 8.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and is shooting 70 percent from the field. (2017-18 » 4.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 65 FG pct.)
• Massalski was limited to three minutes of playing time in the Toreros seventh game of the season at Ole Miss due to injury. He returned to action Dec. 12 at Oregon when he came off the bench and played 16 minutes.
• Massalski delivered his strongest game since the injury against Pacific on Jan. 5. with 11 points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven blocks. He is second among all WCC players in field-goal percentage at 65 percent.
BALANCED PLAY BY WILLIAMS
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Tyler Williams does a little of everything for the Toreros on both sides of the floor. He is averaging 9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He holds a 2.6 assists to turnover ratio. He is shooting a team-best 41 percent from 3-point range.
EFFICIENCY IS KEY FOR FLORESCA
• Through the first six games of the season,
Alex Floresca was one of the Toreros most efficient players. He was averaging 6.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game. He shot 71 percent (15-of-21) from the field and was 3-of-5 (60 percent) from behind the arc.
• His minutes significantly increased with the injury to Massalski. On the season, Floresca is averaging 6.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 21.4 minutes.
• Floresca left the game against Pepperdine early due to a minor ankle injury and is day-to-day.
FINISHING STRONG
• USD has outscored opponents 776-682 during the second half this season. The Toreros are shooting 52 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range during second halves this season. They are holding opponents to 44 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the arc.
• In the final five minutes of games, USD is shooting 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range. They are holding opponents to 43 percent from the field and 31 percent from 3-point range.
Isaiah Wright is shooting 65 percent overall down the stretch and 57 percent from behind the arc, while
Isaiah Pineiro is connecting at 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from long distance.
TOREROS AMONG WCC LEADERS
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Isaiah Pineiro (4th, 19.7) and Olin Carter (9th, 16.5) are among the top-10 in scoring among all WCC players this season. USD, Gonzaga and BYU are the only teams with two players ranked among the top-10 in scoring.
