SAN DIEGO – Led by 14 three-pointers, LMU (13-7, 3-3 WCC) defeated the University of San Diego men's basketball team (9-11, 2-4 WCC) on Saturday, 98-84.
 
Fifth year guard Marcellus Earlington led the Toreros with 24 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the floor to go along with seven rebounds.
 
Fifth year guard Jase Townsend added 21 points (9-16 FG) and five assists in the loss.
 
Sophomore Deuce Turner scored in double figures for the third time in the last four games, ending with 14 points on 5-of-8 from the floor.
 
Graduate guard Eric Williams Jr. contributed eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
USD drops to 9-11 (2-4 WCC) on the season, and will travel to Portland next Thursday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Diego jumped out to an early 8-0 lead with a Jawara and one and five straight from Townsend. LMU answered with 10 straight to take the lead.  
• A 5-0 run followed by a 7-0 run for the Lions gave the home team a 27-15 advantage.
• Turner provided a spark off the bench once again, scoring 10 points in 4:33 to cut the deficit to six.
• Earlington scored eight straight points for the Toreros late in the first half, and USD trailed by just two at 44-42.
• LMU hit a deep triple with less than 10 seconds left, and took a 47-42 lead into the locker room.
• San Diego scored the first five points of the second half to tie the game, including a McKinney and one and a Williams dunk.
• An Earlington jumper gave USD its first lead since the 15:59 mark of the first half, but the Lions answered with 10-0 run. With 13:27 left, LMU led 62-54.
• McKinney converted his third three-point play of the second half, cutting USD's deficit to five with 8:07 to go.
• LMU made 11 free throws over the last 7:20 to seal the win.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Earlington leads the team with 16 games in double figures this season.
• Townsend leads the team with 15.9 points per game.
• The Lions won the rebounding battle 36-26.
• Turner has improved his scoring average to 5.2 through 20 games.
• LMU shot 55.2% (32-58) from the field, 56% (14-25) from three, and 90.9% (20-22) from the free throw line.
• McKinney ended with nine points, all coming in the second half.
• San Diego turned the ball over just seven times, and forced 11.

 
UP NEXT
San Diego will remain on the road to face Portland next Thursday. USD holds a 59-33 lead in the all-time series. After splitting the regular season last year, the Pilots earned a 73-55 win in the second round of the WCC Tournament.