San Diego (16-9, 5-5 WCC)
BYU (16-10, 8-3 WCC)
Jenny Craig Pavilion (5,100)  •  San Diego, Calif.  •  7 p.m. PT
Watch  •  Spectrum SportsNet / TheW.tv  |  Radio  •  Mighty 1090AM |  Live Statistics  •  USDToreros.com
Social  •  Twitter.com/USDMBB  •  Instagram.com/USDMBB

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SAN DIEGO – San Diego begins its longest homestand of the season this week, playing host to BYU on Thursday at 7 p.m. PT.
 
The Toreros (16-9, 5-5 WCC) have won three of their past five games but are coming off a final-seconds defeat at Pepperdine, 70-67. The Cougars (16-10, 8-3) enter the contest on a three-game winning streak.
 
The game will be broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet with Steve Quis (play-by-play) and Casey Jacobsen (analyst) on the call. Jack Cronin will have the radio broadcast on Mighty 1090 AM. Live statistics will be available via USDToreros.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• In a game that saw 10 ties and 15 lead changes, San Diego dropped a tough contest in the final seconds at Pepperdine Saturday afternoon, 70-67.
 
• With the game tied 64-64 with 1:15 remaining, Olin Carter III hit a clutch three-pointer to give the Toreros (16-9, 5-5 WCC) the lead, 67-64. A USD foul outside the arc on the other end of the floor sent Pepperdine's Colbey Ross to the line for three with eight seconds remaining in the contest.
 
• Ross made the first and missed the next two but USD was called for a foul on the rebound that sent Pepperdine back to the line for two more chances. After making the first to pull within one, 66-67, the Waves collected a pivotal offensive rebound on the missed second free throw and landed the put-back with 2.0 seconds remaining to secure the lead and ultimately the win.
 
• Isaiah Wright scored a team-high 14 points and also led the Toreros with seven assists.
 
• Isaiah Pineiro got into foul trouble early on, but still managed to collect his 10th double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds, adding three assists.
 
• The Toreros pressured the Waves on the defensive end all day, finishing with 10 steals, three blocks and collecting 23 points off of turnovers.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. BYU
• USD is 5-14 all-time against the Cougars but holds a 4-4 record against BYU at home. The teams split the regular season series last year with both teams winning at home. The teams met for a third time in the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas with BYU edging the Toreros, 85-79.
 
• Isaiah Pineiro led the Toreros with 20 points in last year's home victory against BYU, 75-62.
 
FINALLY HEALTHY
• USD has battled through injuries to starters Yauhen Massalski, Isaiah Wright and Olin Carter III throughout the season.
 
•  Massalski missed three games (Dec. 1-9) after sustaining an ankle injury in the first three minutes at Ole Miss (Nov. 28). Wright missed four games (Dec. 29-Jan.5) after a wrist injury during a double-overtime game against Drake (Dec. 23). Carter III missed five games (Jan. 17-Feb. 2) due to an abdominal injury in the second half against Pepperdine (Jan. 12).
 
• USD's game at Loyola Marymount on Feb. 7 was the first time the Toreros had their starting lineup (Wright, Carter III, Tyler Williams, Isaiah Pineiro, Massalski) all start together and finish the game together since Nov. 24 against Jackson State.
 
PINEIRO AND CARTER III LEAD THE WAY
• Isaiah Pineiro has led the Toreros in scoring in 13-of-25 games and Olin Carter III has led USD in seven games.
 
•  Pineiro is averaging 19.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Pineiro is shooting 51 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range.
 
•  Pineiro registered four double-doubles during a five-game span (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 stretch. Pineiro leads the Toreros with 10 double-doubles on the season.
 
•  Pineiro ranks among the top-five of WCC players in rebounding (2nd, 9.0), defensive rebounds (2nd, 7.0) and scoring (4th, 19.3).
 
• Carter III missed five games after an injury during the Toreros game against Pepperdine on Jan. 12. He returned to action Feb. 7 at Loyola Marymount and led the Toreros with 15 points in a 65-63 victory.
 
• Carter III is averaging 16.0 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 35 percent of his 3-point attempts. Carter III is also contributing 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
 
WRIGHT LEADS THE OFFENSE
• Isaiah Wright returned to the lineup against Portland (Jan. 17) after missing four games due to a wrist injury sustained during the 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 right 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 13.4 points, 4.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game on the season.
 
ISAIAHS GO FULL-40
• Isaiah Wright has played all 40 minutes in four of the past five games. Isaiah Pineiro played all 40 minutes in two of the past three.
 
NUMBERS UP FOR MASSALSKI
•  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 is averaging 7.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He is second among all WCC players in field-goal percentage at 65 percent and third in blocked shots with 1.5 per game.
 
BALANCED PLAY BY WILLIAMS
• Tyler Williams does a little of everything for the Toreros on both sides of the floor. He is averaging 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He holds a 2.2 assists to turnover ratio. He is shooting a team-best 39 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.
 
• On the season, Floresca is averaging 5.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in 19.4 minutes.
 
FINISHING STRONG
• USD has outscored opponents 1,003-895 during the second half this season. The Toreros are shooting 51 percent from the field and 40 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 52 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range. They are holding opponents to 45 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range. Isaiah Wright is shooting 68 percent overall down the stretch and 46 percent from behind the arc, while Isaiah Pineiro is connecting at 60 percent from the field and 56 percent from long distance.
 
CHALLENGING ROAD AHEAD
• Five of the Toreros final six games will be against teams ahead of them in the WCC standings. USD will play BYU twice, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and San Francisco. Portland is the only opponent remaining that is below the Toreros in the WCC standings.
 
TOREROS AMONG WCC LEADERS
• Isaiah Pineiro (4th, 19.3) and Olin Carter (T-9th, 16.0) are among the top-10 in scoring among all WCC players this season. USD, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and BYU are the only teams with two players ranked among the top-10 in scoring.