SAN DIEGO – In a tightly contested game that included 11 lead changes and nine ties, the University of San Diego men's basketball team (2-0) defeated Florida Gulf Coast (1-1) at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Wednesday, 79-73.
 
Sigu Sisoho Jawara led the team in scoring for the second consecutive game with 22 points (9-14 FG), including 16 in the second half. The junior knocked down three triples and added five assists.
 
Graduate guard Eric Williams Jr. registered a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, making 9-of-16 field goal attempts.
 
Senior Marcellus Earlington contributed 18 points, seven boards, two assists, and two steals in the win.
 
Senior Jase Townsend scored in double figures with 11 points, including a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line (all in the second half).
 
USD improves to 2-0 on the season, and will host NJIT on Sunday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Florida Gulf Coast took an early 6-1 lead, but USD answered with a 7-0 run. Earlington buried a triple, followed by Williams Jr. and Jawara layups.
• Back-to-back buckets from Earlington gave San Diego a 22-21 lead with 7:55 remaining.
• An 8-0 run from San Diego, including three fast break dunks, forced FGCU to take a timeout trailing 26-21.
• After the Eagles cut the deficit to one, Williams made another layup and Earlington sunk two free throws to give USD a 32-27 lead at halftime.
• FGCU made three triples over the first 2:46 of the second half to tie the game. The Eagles later used a 7-0 run to take the lead at 43-40.
• Jawara scored 14 points over the next six minutes, and San Diego regained the lead at 61-55.
• The USD run ballooned to 10-0 after a Delaire offensive rebound and put back, and USD captured a 65-55 advantage with 7:19 left.
• FGCU chopped the deficit to one with 2:54 remaining, but Williams Jr. connected on a three-point play on the other end to make it 73-69.
• Townsend sunk eight free throws over the final 4:16 to seal the win.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Jawara leads the team through two games with 19.5 PPG.
• Earlington has registered 944 career points.
• After notching seven points today, Jaiden Delaire now has 943 career points. He was second on the team with nine rebounds.
• Williams is averaging a double-double through two games (15.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG).
• USD shot 50.9% (29-57) from the floor, compared to FGCU's 43.6% (24-55).
• San Diego led for 27:51. The Eagles led for 5:52.
• McKinney was a +9, tied for best on the team.
• The Toreros won the rebounding battle, 36-32.
• Lavin improves to 228-133 in his head coaching career.
• USD held a 26-7 advantage in fast break points.

 
UP NEXT
San Diego continues its five game homestand to open the season, welcoming NJIT on Sunday at 2 PM. The teams will meet for the first time in program history.