SAN DIEGO – In the first game of the 2022-23 season, the University of San Diego men's basketball team (1-0) defeated the Sonoma State Seawolves (0-1), 81-59. Steve Lavin earned his first win after being named head coach in April, as the Toreros forced 20 turnovers and got points from 10 different players.
 
Sigu Sisoho Jawara led the team with 17 points in his USD debut, shooting 7-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-7 from long range. Jase Townsend added 16 points in the win, drilling three of his four three-point attempts. Both players added five assists each.
 
Last year's leading scorer Marcellus Earlington registered a double-double, totaling 14 points (6-6 FT) and 10 rebounds.
 
Eric Williams Jr. narrowly missed a double-double of his own, ending with 11 points, nine rebounds, and four steals in the contest.
 
USD improves to 1-0 on the season, and will host Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Diego used an early 6-0 run to take a 12-7 lead.
• Yavuz Gultekin buried the first three-pointer of the season for USD, extending the home team's lead to 15-9.
• Townsend scored five points for USD in a span of 20 seconds, and Williams Jr. followed it up with a triple to make it 30-20.
• USD forced its 12^th turnover of the first half with 12 seconds remaining. Jawara dribbled up the court and used a spin move to hit a layup at the buzzer. At the break, San Diego led 37-25.
• Back-to-back three-pointers from Jawara and Townsend forced a Sonoma State timeout and extended USD's lead to 45-28 with 17:34 left.
• The Toreros broke free midway through the second half, coming up with multiple steals and using a 10-0 run to go ahead 60-35.
• A triple from Jawara, three free throws from Deuce Turner, and a Jaiden Delaire tomahawk slam quickly brought the USD lead to 76-48 with 2:31 remaining.
• Neel Beniwal drilled a triple from the wing for his first career points late in the second half.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Lavin improves to 227-133 in his head coaching career.
• Earlington registered his sixth double-double in 32 career games at USD.
• USD shot 13-19 from the free throw line, while Sonoma State was 2-4.
• San Diego led for 37:55.
• Sisoho Jawara, Williams Jr., Jaiden Delaire, Turner, Beniwal, Nic Lynch, and Jeremiah Nyarko all scored in their San Diego debut.
• Dominic Muncey earned his first career start.
• USD held a 23-11 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Jaiden Delaire ended with five points and seven rebounds.
• The Toreros scored 22 fast break points.

 
UP NEXT
San Diego continues its five game homestand to open the season, welcoming Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday night. The teams will be meeting for the first time in history.