MALIBU, CA – Behind double-doubles from fifth year guard Marcellus Earlington (30 points, 12 rebounds) and graduate guard Eric Williams Jr. (21 points, 11 rebounds), the University of San Diego men's basketball team (10-12, 3-5 WCC) earned a regular season sweep over Pepperdine (7-15, 0-8 WCC), 87-78.
 
The Toreros shot 53.4% (31-58) from the floor, which is a season high.
 
Earlington scored 30 points for the second consecutive game, including his career-high of 32 at Portland last Thursday. He shot 10-of-19 from the floor and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
 
Williams Jr. registered his team-high 10^th double-double of the season, shooting 6-of-13 from the field and 8-of-9 from the stripe.
 
Fifth year guard Jase Townsend added 11 points and five rebounds in the win.
 
USD improves to 10-12 (3-5 WCC) on the season, and will return home to face San Francisco on Saturday night.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Pepperdine took an early 5-2 lead, San Diego responded with a 16-0 run, including nine from Earlington.  
• With 11:42 left in the first half, USD led 18-8. The Toreros were shooting 62% (8-13) from the floor and held Pepperdine to 21% (3-14).
• After a McKinney triple extended the lead to 13, Pepperdine answered with a 16-1 run to go ahead 24-22.
• With just over three minutes to play in the first half, USD used a quick 7-0 run to regain the lead at 33-26. The teams traded free throws to end the half, as the Toreros held a 37-32 advantage at the break.
• Buckets from Williams Jr. and Earlington, in addition to a Nic Lynch and one, put San Diego on top 52-42.
• Pepperdine's Maxwell Lewis and Mike Mitchell Jr. scored the next 18 points for the home team, propelling the Waves to a 60-58 advantage.
• Earlington later knocked down a corner triple to get up to 30 points, followed by a Williams dunk to force Pepperdine to call a timeout. With 2:56 left, the Toreros led 75-70.
• A minute later, Jawara increased the run to 8-0 with a step back triple.
• Williams Jr. hit six straight free throws in the last minute to seal the win.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Earlington increased his scoring average to 16.5 points, which leads the team and ranks fifth in the WCC.
• Williams Jr. ranks top-10 nationally in double-doubles. He's now averaging 15.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per contest.
• Townsend scored in double figures for the 14^th time in 18 games.
• USD's previous season high for field goal percentage was 52.9 (also against Pepperdine).
• San Diego led for 31:21, compared to Pepperdine's 4:29.
• Freshman Steven Jamerson II earned his first career start.
• The Toreros held a 20-8 advantage in fast break points. USD came into the matchup ranking eighth in the NCAA in fast break points per game (16.33).
• McKinney added eight points on 3-3 from the floor.

 
UP NEXT
After three straight games on the road, USD returns home to play San Francisco on Saturday at 7:00 PM. The Dons hold a 49-41 lead in the all-time series, but USD overcame a 15-point deficit in the last matchup to win, 80-68.