SAN DIEGO  –  The San Diego men's basketball team (12-9, 5-3 WCC) defeated Pepperdine (6-16, 0-7 WCC) on Thursday, 64-56, to earn its best start in WCC play since 2008. The Toreros led for 33:57 and outrebounded the Waves 45-33.
 
Graduate Terrell Brown-Soares registered a double-double for the second consecutive game, ending with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and another five blocks.
 
Redshirt senior Joey Calcaterra also went into double-figures, scoring 11 points in addition to three assists and three steals.
 
Senior Jase Townsend contributed nine points and five rebounds with a team-best +13.
 
Junior Yavuz Gultekin registered eight points and six rebounds in the win, while freshman Wayne McKinney added eight points and five rebounds.
 
San Diego improves to 12-9 (5-3 WCC) on the season, and will travel to LMU on Saturday.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a defensive battle early, as Pepperdine missed 12 straight shots. San Diego took advantage with a 9-0 run.
• Calcaterra buried a triple to put USD ahead by eight, but Pepperdine answered with an 8-2 run, including two three-pointers.
• San Diego ended the first half on a 10-2 run, including six points from Brown-Soares. At halftime, the Toreros led 34-24. Pepperdine was held to 9-of-33 (27%) from the field.
• The Waves scored the first seven points of the second to quickly cut their deficit to three.
• Back-to-back layups from Townsend and a fast break from Calcaterra extended USD's lead to 40-31.
• San Diego missed eight straight shots midway through the second half and Pepperdine capitalized with an 8-0 spurt to tie the game.
• Led by 15 straight points from Maxwell Lewis, the Waves brought their deficit to two. USD then produced a 6-0 run with field goals from Gultekin, McKinney, and Brown-Soares.
• Townsend and McKinney each made two free throws over the final two minutes to seal the victory. 

TORERO TIDBITS

• Brown-Soares is now averaging 9.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks. He now has four double-doubles this season.
• San Diego is 7-2 at home this season.
• Calcaterra went into double-figures for the 13^th time this year, which ranks second on the team behind Earlington.
• San Diego held an 18-2 advantage in second chance points.
• The Toreros made 16-of-20 free throws, including a perfect 4-of-4 from both McKinney and Pinchuk.
• In eight conference games, Gultekin is averaging 9.5 and 5.9 rebounds per contest.

UP NEXT
San Diego travels to Loyola Marymount on Saturday for a 4:00 PM tip. The Toreros hold a 53-52 lead in the all-time series, including a 70-65 win at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on January 15. Senior forward Marcellus Earlington and junior Yavuz Gultekin each registered a double-double for the second consecutive game, both ending with 11 points and 12 rebounds.