SAN DIEGO – Graduate guard Eric Williams Jr. set a program record with 43 points, but the University of San Diego men's basketball team (3-1) fell to Utah State (4-0) in overtime, 91-89. Williams Jr. bests the previous USD record of 40, set by Robert "Pinky" Smith in 1972.
 
Williams Jr. shot 13-of-20 from the floor, 7-of-8 from long distance, and 10-of-13 from the free throw line. He added 13 rebounds to notch a double-double for the third straight game. With 2.8 seconds remaining in regulation, Williams Jr. hit a fadeaway triple from the corner to send the game to overtime.
 
Junior Sigu Jawara added 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists in the loss.
 
USD falls to 3-1 on the season, and will host San Diego Christian on Monday night.   
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Diego jumped out to an early 9-0 lead behind five points from Jawara and four free throws from Williams.
• Utah State scored just two points over the first five minutes, shooting 1-of-7 from the floor.
• The Aggies used a 6-0 run to tie the game at 13-13.
• A triple from Marcellus Earlingon and a deep three from Williams put USD up 23-17 with 5:46 left in the opening half.
• Utah State's Max Shulga scored 11 points over the last 4:13 of the first half. At halftime, USD maintained a slim 31-30 advantage.
• Another long triple and tip-in from Williams put USD ahead 44-41. Utah State answered with back-to-back threes, taking a 48-46 lead.
• The teams traded blows midway through the second half, with eight lead changes in a span of four minutes.
• Utah State registered a 7-0 run, including two dunks to grab a 66-62 lead with 5:14 left.
• Three straight buckets from Jawara tied the game at 71-71 with 1:49 remaining.
• Williams Jr. took an inbound from Wayne McKinney and hit a fadeaway three-pointer with two seconds remaining to tie the game, forcing overtime.
• In overtime, Williams buried another triple to earn the program record for points in a game (43).
• Jawara followed with another three, but Utah State answered with a 6-0 run.
• With 17 seconds left, Earlington converted an and one play to lock the game at 89-89.
• The Aggies converted on a jumper with four seconds left, and Jawara's last second attempt rimmed out.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Williams Jr. set a new career-high with the 43 points. His previous was 40 while at Duquesne. Williams Jr. breaks a USD record that stood for 18,241 days.
• The 43 points from Williams are the second most in Division I college basketball this season (44 by George Washington's James Bishop).
• There were 15 lead changes and 10 ties in the contest.
• Earlington is up to 967 career points after adding eight tonight.
• After scoring 8 today, Jaiden Delaire now has 963 career points.
• Jawara is second on the team with 18.7 points per game.
• Utah State shot 51.7% (31-60) from the floor, while USD shot 41.3% (31-75).
• USD led for 28:19, compared to the Aggies' 9:09.
• Williams is averaging a double-double through three games (22.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG).

 
UP NEXT
San Diego will play its fifth straight home game to open the season, hosting San Diego Christian on Monday night. The Toreros hold a 6-0 lead in the all-time series, including a 95-47 win last time out (November 15, 2018).