RIVERSIDE, CA – Outscoring the Highlanders 18-10 in the overtime period, the University of San Diego men's basketball team (7-6) defeated UC Riverside (6-5) on Tuesday, 92-84.
 
In his 96^th collegiate game, junior Sigu Sisoho Jawara set a new career high with 29 points, making 8-of-15 field goal attempts, 4-of-6 three-point attempts, and 9-of-10 free throws. Jawara added four assists and three rebounds in the win.
 
Fifth year guard Marcellus Earlington matched his career high with 25 points on 10-of-18 from the floor. He also contributed eight rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.
 
Graduate guard Eric Williams Jr. notched his seventh double-double in 12 games, ending with 23 points and 14 rebounds.

Tonight was the first time San Diego had three different players score 20+ points since December 23, 2018 (Carter, Wright, and Pineiro vs. Drake).
 
USD improves to 7-6 on the season, and will travel to CSUN for the non-conference finale on Thursday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Diego started strong offensively, led by a 10-0 run to go up 21-12.
• USD made 10 of its first 20 shots, including 5-of-7 from long range over the first 10 minutes.
• UC Riverside cut the deficit to three with just under four minutes to play in the first half, but USD answered with an 8-1 run. Earlington hit a jumper, while Jawara and Bendji Pierre buried triples.
• The Highlanders converted an and one with less than 10 seconds to go, but the Toreros maintained a 42-36 lead at halftime.
• Back-to-back jumpers from Williams and a McKinney free throw extended USD's lead to 53-44 early in the second half.
• A quick 7-0 run gave the Highlanders a 56-55 advantage with 10:13 to play.
• San Diego registered a crucial 10-2 run, including six points from Williams to put USD up 69-60 with 2:44 left.
• UCR's Zyon Pullin scored 11 points over the final 1:08 to send the game to overtime.
• Williams and Earlington buried triples to open the extra frame. The Toreros pulled away with less than a minute to go, including three free throws from Jawara and two from Earlington.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Jawara's previous career high was 25, set twice at Weber State. Through 11 games played, he is now averaging 12.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
• Williams Jr. is now leading the team with 15.4 points per game and 10.7 rebounds per game. He ranks top-15 nationally for both double-doubles (7) and rebounds per game.
• Earlington went into double figures for the 11^th time this season, which leads the team. He matches his career high of 25 set while at St. John's in February 2020.
• San Diego went 17-23 (73.9%) from the free throw line, including a perfect 6-6 in the overtime period.
• USD had just five turnovers and held a 21-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
• McKinney ended with eight points, five rebounds, and two steals.
• The Toreros won the rebounding battle, 40-33.
• USD ranks second in the WCC in three-point field goal percentage (39.7%).

 
UP NEXT
San Diego will wrap non-conference play at CSUN on Thursday. USD holds an 18-14 lead in the all-time series, but the Matadors earned a 56-52 win last season at the JCP. Marcellus Earlington led the Toreros with 20 points and nine rebounds.