San Diego (16-11, 5-7 WCC)
Portland (7-20, 0-12 WCC)
Jenny Craig Pavilion (5,100) • San Diego, Calif. • 7 p.m. PT
Watch • theW.tv |
Radio • Mighty 1090AM |
Live Statistics • USDToreros.com
Social • Twitter.com/USDMBB • Instagram.com/USDMBB
SAN DIEGO – San Diego will look to snap a three-game losing streak when it plays host to Portland on Thursday at 7 p.m. PT.
The Toreros (16-11, 5-7 WCC) have lost three games in a row for the first time since a five-game losing streak from Feb. 2-16, 2017, and are coming off a 79-67 loss against Gonzaga. The Pilots (7-20, 0-12 WCC) enter the game on a 13-game losing streak and are coming off a 68-63 overtime loss against San Francisco.
The game will be streamed on theW.tv and broadcast on Mighty 1090AM with Jack Cronin on the call. Live statistics will be available via USDToreros.com.
LAST TIME OUT
•
Isaiah Pineiro scored 20 points and
Olin Carter III added 14 but it was not enough for San Diego to keep pace with No. 3 Gonzaga as the Toreros fell 79-67 on Saturday night in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
• USD (16-11, 5-7 WCC) played well but ran into a Bulldogs (25-2, 12-0 WCC) team that caught fire in the second half. Gonzaga shot 69 percent from the field in the second period and finished the game at 58 percent on the night.
• After going into halftime tied 30-30, Gonzaga hit 10 of their first 12 shots in the second half to take its largest lead of the night, 51-42. The Bulldogs led by as many as 15 with 8:29 to play.
• The Toreros closed the gap to nine points twice in the final 1:07 but that was as close as they would get.
• USD kept itself within striking distance throughout the night behind offensive contributions from a variety of players and quality defense against the Bulldogs second unit. The Toreros held Gonzaga's bench to two points.
• Pineiro scored at least 20 points for the 13th time this season to lead USD. His minutes were limited in the first half due to foul trouble and did not play the final 6:26 of the half.
• Carter III carried the Toreros offensive in the opening half, contributing 12 of his 14 points.
Tyler Williams connected on 4-of-6 attempts from behind the arc for 12 points.
• USD rebounded well despite Gonzaga finishing with a 35-26 edge.
Yauhen Massalski led the Toreros with eight rebounds.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. PORTLAND
• USD is 53-31 all-time against the Pilots and are 3-2 in the past four meetings.
• USD won the most recent meeting 76-55 on Jan. 17 in Portland. 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.
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 14-of-27 games and
Olin Carter III has led USD in seven games. The duo tied for the most points against BYU (Feb. 14) with 20 apiece.
• Pineiro is averaging 19.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Pineiro is shooting 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range.
• Pineiro leads the Toreros with 11 double-doubles on the season and registered a double-doubles in five straight games from Jan. 26-Feb. 14. He averaged 19.2 points and 11.2 rebounds during the span.
• Pineiro recorded 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 ranks among the top-five of WCC players in rebounding (2nd, 9.0), defensive rebounds (2nd, 7.1) 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 16.1 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 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 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 12.9 points, 4.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game on the season.
ISAIAHS GO FULL-40
•
Isaiah Wright has played at least 40 minutes in five of the past seven games.
Isaiah Pineiro has played at least 40 minutes in three of the past five. Wright played 43 minutes, while Pineiro played 44 minutes in an overtime game against BYU.
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 1.6 blocks per game. He is second among all WCC players in field-goal percentage at 65 percent and tied for second in blocked shots with 1.6 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 9.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He holds a 2.4 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.
• On the season, Floresca is averaging 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in 19.3 minutes.
FINISHING STRONG
• USD has outscored opponents 1,076-989 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 45 percent from the field and 34 percent from behind the arc.
• In the final five minutes of games, USD is shooting 50 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range. They are holding opponents to 45 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point range.
Isaiah Wright is shooting 63 percent overall down the stretch and 42 percent from behind the arc, while
Isaiah Pineiro is connecting at 59 percent from the field and 46 percent from long distance.
CHALLENGING ROAD AHEAD
• Three of the Toreros final four games will be against teams ahead of them in the WCC standings. USD will play BYU, Saint Mary's and San Francisco. Portland is the only opponent remaining that is below the Toreros in the WCC standings.
