San Diego (21-14)
Memphis (21-13)
FedExForum (18,119) • Memphis, Tenn. • 5 p.m. PT
Watch • ESPN3.com |Â
Radio • Mighty 1090AM |Â
Live Statistics • USDToreros.com
Social • Twitter.com/USDMBB • Instagram.com/USDMBB
SAN DIEGO – San Diego will compete in the National Invitation Tournament for the first time in program history when it travels to Memphis on Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT.
Â
The Toreros (21-14) played their best basketball down the final stretch of the season, culminating with three dominating victories in the WCC Tournament before being edged by eventual WCC Tournament champion, Saint Mary's, in the semifinals. Memphis defeated Tulane and UCF in the American Athletic Conference Championship before falling to No. 11 Houston in the semifinals, 61-58.
Â
The game will be streamed on ESPN3.com with David Saltzman (play-by-play) and Rich Zvosec (analyst) on the call. Jack Cronin will provide the radio broadcast on Mighty 1090AM. Live statistics will be available via USDToreros.com.
Â
POSTSEASON HISTORY
• USD will compete in a postseason tournament for the second year in a row for the first time in program history.
Â
• The Toreros won two games and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament last year before falling to Northern Colorado, 86-75.
Â
• USD will compete in the NIT for the first time in program history. The Toreros have competed in the NCAA Tournament four times (1984, 1987, 2003, 2008). USD has competed in the CIT twice (2014, 2018). The Toreros hold a 5-6 record all-time in postseason play (1-4 NCAA; 4-2 CIT).
Â
LAST TIME OUT
•
Isaiah Wright scored a game-high 22 points but it was not enough as San Diego's remarkable WCC Tournament run came to an end with a 69-62 defeat against Saint Mary's in the WCC Tournament Semifinals last Monday night at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Â
• Wright hit a season-high five 3-pointers to lead an inspired Toreros (21-14) effort in their fourth game in five days.
Â
• After trailing the entire first half, the Toreros tied the game early in the second half 41-41 on a jumper by
Olin Carter III with 16:02 to play. USD took its first lead of the game on a 3-pointer by Wright with 12:49 remaining.
Â
• The Toreros held a lead or were tied until the Gaels Malik Fitts hit one of two free throws with 6:56 remaining to put his team up, 53-52. SMC would remain in front the remainder of the game.
Â
• USD made it a one-possession game twice in the final 1:20 but could not get the shots needed to fall down the stretch, closing the game 2-of-6 from the field. The Toreros had a pair of good looks from behind the arc with under a minute to play but could not get either shot to drop to close the gap on the Gaels.
Â
• It was a tough way to end the tournament for the Toreros, which produced the following accomplishments over four games in a five-day stretch.
Won USD's first WCC Tournament game since 2013 with a 67-47 victory against Portland (March 7).
Secured USD's second consecutive 20-win season with a 62-45 victory against Santa Clara (March 8) – the first time the Toreros have produced back-to-back 20-win seasons as a Division-I program.
Won three games in the WCC Tournament since the 2007-08 season with an 80-57 victory against BYU (March 9).
Produced the most wins in a single season (21) since the 2007-08 season (22).
Â
•
Isaiah Pineiro carried the Toreros in the first half, scoring 12 of his 16 points in the opening period. He had a tough second half, scoring four points on 2-of-7 shooting, but pulled down a team-best five rebounds to finish the night with a team-high seven.
Â
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. MEMPHIS
• It will be the first meeting in program history between the two teams.
Â
TRIO EARN ALL-WCC HONORS
•
Isaiah Pineiro,
Olin Carter III and
Isaiah Wright earned All-WCC honors. Pineiro was named to the first team for the second consecutive season, while Carter III was named to the second team and Wright claimed honorable mention recognition. It was also the second conference honors of Carter III and Wright's careers.
Â
FINALLY HEALTHY
• USD has battled through injuries to starters
Yauhen Massalski,
Isaiah Wright and
Olin Carter III throughout the season.
Â
• 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).
Â
• 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.
Â
BACK-TO-BACK 20-WIN SEASONS
• The Toreros second-round victory in the WCC Tournament against Santa Clara (March 8) secured the Toreros second consecutive 20-win season – the first time the program has accomplished the feat since moving to Division-I during the 1979-80 season.
Â
Â