SAN DIEGO – Leading for 30:54, the University of San Diego men's basketball team (3-0) handled NJIT (0-3) at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Sunday, 74-64. The Toreros start the season 3-0 for the first time since 2017-18.
 
For the third consecutive game, senior Jase Townsend, graduate guard Eric Williams Jr., and senior Marcellus Earlington went into double-figures.
 
Townsend led USD with 21 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from long range. He added six rebounds and two assists.
 
Williams Jr. registered a double-double for the second consecutive game, ending with 16 points and 12 rebounds (six offensive).
 
Earlington added 15 points in the win, including a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line.
 
USD improves to 3-0 on the season, and will host Utah State on Thursday.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Townsend connected on a turnaround jumper and a three-pointer to tie the game at 7-7 early.
• NJIT made nine of its first 14 attempts (64%) to take an 22-18 lead with 10:58 left in the first half.
• The Toreros quickly erased the deficit and took a 27-22 lead with a 9-0 run. Delaire and Lynch both knocked down triples.
• Townsend went on an 8-0 run by himself late in the first half, including an and one triple as USD took a 39-31 lead.
• NJIT hit two late free throws, cutting its deficit to 39-33 at halftime.
• Delaire converted a three-pointer and a layup early in the second half, extending USD's lead to 44-36.
• After the Highlanders chopped it to three, McKinney converted a three-point play the hard way.
• San Diego built a 12-point lead multiple times in the second half, including after a Delaire triple, another Townsend triple, and two McKinney free throws.
• Williams Jr. hit a three-pointer with 1:59 remaining, which would prove to be the last points of the game.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Townsend is up to 16.0 points per game, which is second on the team. He leads the squad with eight made triples.
• Earlington is up to 959 career points. He is 19-of-22 from the line this season (86.4%).
• After scoring 12 today, Jaiden Delaire now has 955 career points.
• Williams is averaging a double-double through three games (15.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG).
• McKinney started for the first time this year, ending with five points, five rebounds, and five assists.
• Lavin improves to 229-133 in his head coaching career.
• USD turned the ball over just six times, and dished 14 assists.

 
UP NEXT
San Diego continues its five game homestand to open the season, welcoming Utah State this Thursday. The Aggies hold a 3-1 lead in the all-time series. The teams last met in 1999, when Utah State earned a 68-65 win in overtime.