SAN FRANCISCO – Sparked by a 32-9 run, the University of San Diego men's basketball team (8-8, 1-1 WCC) earned a comeback road win at San Francisco (11-6, 0-2 WCC) on Saturday, 80-68. The Toreros trailed by as many as 15 in the first half, and used contributions from all eight players to seal the win.   
 
Fifth year guard Marcellus Earlington scored 23 points, including 20 in the second half before fouling out with 6:43 left. He made 7-of-11 attempts from the field and 8-of-10 free throws. Earlington added seven rebounds.
 
Sophomore Wayne McKinney III notched a career-high 19 points, shooting 6-of-9 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He added five rebounds in 36 minutes played.
 
In his first game back from injury, graduate guard Jase Townsend registered 22 points (10-11 FT), six rebounds, and four assists.
 
USD improves to 8-8 on the season, and will return home to face Pacific on Thursday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Francisco knocked down four triples in the first 4:31 to take a 14-4 lead.
• McKinney helped USD battle back, notching six points to cut the deficit to 19-10.
• After USF took a 28-13 advantage, San Diego answered with a 14-0 run to cut the deficit to one. McKinney notched seven of those points, capped by a driving layup.
• Deuce Turner connected on a long triple with 35 seconds remaining in the opening frame. The Dons maintained a slight 34-32 lead at the break.
• San Diego scored the first seven points of the second half, including four Earlington free throws, to take a 39-34 lead.  
• Earlington hit a straightaway three followed by an and-one, giving USD a 45-37 lead. He scored 10 points over the first 3:49 of the second half.
• Two more free throws from Earlington tied USD's largest lead of 12 with 8:35 left. San Francisco battled back, as a three-pointer cut its deficit to 65-59.
• Over the final 3:14, 13 of USD's last 15 points came from free throws. Jawara drilled four straight in the last 20 seconds to seal the victory.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Earlington has scored 20+ points in three of the last four games. He scored 20 points over the first 11:25 of the second half.
• After missing the last four games, Townsend registered his 10^th game in double figures this season.
• McKinney bests his previous career high of 17, set twice (last vs Cal Lutheran on 12/11/21).
• In his 99^th career game, Jawara secured a career-high nine rebounds. With eight points tonight, he is up to 987 in his career.
• Without Eric Williams Jr., who ranks 10^th in the NCAA for rebounds per game, USD won the rebounding battle, 36-34.
• The Toreros continued their stellar free throw shooting, making 29-of-33 attempts (87.9%). Over its last four games, USD is 86-of-102 (84.3%) from the stripe.
• San Francisco led for 19:56, while USD led for 19:04.
• San Diego outscored USF 48-34 in the second half.

 
UP NEXT
San Diego will return to the JCP for three straight home games, beginning with Pacific on January 5. The Tigers hold a 16-10 lead in the all-time series, but USD earned two wins last year. Earlington combined for 37 points and 12 rebounds in those contests.