LAS VEGAS – Isaiah Wright scored a game-high 23 points and San Diego delivered its best defensive performance of the season to earn a 62-45 victory against Santa Clara on Friday in the second round of the WCC Tournament at the Orleans Arena.
 
The victory 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.
 
USD (20-13) advances to the WCC Quarterfinals on Saturday and will take on BYU at 9 p.m. PT. It will be the Toreros first quarterfinals appearance since 2013, when USD defeated the Cougars 72-69. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
 
USD advanced behind an elite defensive performance. The Toreros allowed a season-low 45 points and limited the Broncos (16-15) to just 16 points in the first half – the fewest points allowed by USD in a single half this season.
 
USD did not allow a Santa Clara field goal for the first 8:29 of the game and held the Broncos to 28 percent shooting from the field on the night.
 
Wright exploded offensively in the second half, producing 22 of his 23 points in the second period. He was efficient, going 8-of-11 from the field, 4-of-6 from 3-point range and knocking down three free throws. Wright also tied his season high of eight assists and pulled down six rebounds.
 
Isaiah Pineiro also hit double-digits in scoring with 15 points and was one rebound shy of what would have been his sixth consecutive double-double. He has scored in double-digits in every game this season.
 
Tyler Williams had an excellent game on both ends of the floor, knocking down a trio of threes, dishing out two assists and playing well on the defensive end.
 
Finn Sullivan provided valuable minutes off the bench, producing five points and grabbing five boards in 13 minutes.
 
The Toreros struggled offensively in the first half but found their rhythm in the second. USD hit 14-of-28 shots (50 percent) in the second period to pull away from the Broncos. The Toreros connected on six of their final seven shots to seal the decision.
 
USD outrebounded Santa Clara, 42-35, and produced 11 second-chance points.
 
The Toreros scored 1:21 into the game and led the remainder of the way.