LAS VEGAS – Led by four in double figures, the No. 7 San Diego men's basketball team (15-15) defeated No. 10 Pepperdine (7-25) in the first round of the WCC Tournament, 74-67.
 
Redshirt senior Joey Calcaterra led all scorers with 20 points, including 6-of-9 from the field, 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
 
Senior Marcellus Earlington stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.
 
Junior Yavuz Gultekin added 14 points (5-of-8 FG) and five rebounds in the win.
 
Senior Jase Townsend scored 11 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line in addition to three assists and three steals.
 
San Diego improves its record to 15-15, and will face No. 6 Portland in the second round on Friday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Diego jumped out to a 10-0 lead, making its first four shots. Calcaterra buried two early triples.
• After Pepperdine cut the deficit to three, Gultekin knocked down a straightaway three before McKinney hit two free throws, Pinchuk dunked, and Earlington hit a jumper.
• With six minutes left in the first, Calcaterra connected on two free throws and McKinney swished one from beyond the arc to extend the Toreros lead to 11.
• Pepperdine answered with a 9-2 run to end the half, forcing five turnovers in the span. At the break, USD maintained a 36-32 lead.
• Just over a minute into the second half, the Waves took the lead with a 7-2 run.
• A dunk and two layups on consecutive trips down the court gave Pepperdine a 47-41 advantage with 13:05 left.
• USD snatched the lead back with a quick 6-0 run, including four from Gultekin.
• Townsend and Calcaterra later drilled back-to-back triples to put USD up by three.
• San Diego used a 9-0 run to take control late, including five from Gultekin and four from Townsend.
• Calcaterra hit three free throws with less than 30 seconds left to seal the win. 

TORERO TIDBITS

• Earlington went into double figures for the team-leading 22^nd time this season and registered his fifth double-double. His five assists tonight were a career high.
• Calcaterra notched his second 20+ point game of the season, and first since November 17 (UC Riverside).
• Townsend went into double figures for the 13^th time this season, which is third on the team.
• Gultekin poured in double-digit points for the ninth time this year, which is tied for fourth on the team.
• USD shot 53.8% (14-26) in the first half.
• The Toreros dished 15 assists and turned the ball over just nine times.
• There were eight lead changes and three ties in the contest.
• USD improves to 9-13 at the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas.

UP NEXT
San Diego will face No. 6 Portland in the second round on Friday night. Tip is scheduled for 8:00 PM. The teams split the regular season series, including USD coming back from a 17-point deficit to win in overtime on January 13.