SAN DIEGO – Led by a 19-0 run early in the second half, Portland (12-13, 4-6 WCC) defeated the University of San Diego men's basketball team (10-14, 3-7 WCC) on Thursday, 80-61.
 
After shooting 52% in the first half, USD was held to 30% in the second.
 
Fifth year guard Marcellus Earlington led the Toreros with 20 points and eight rebounds, making 7-of-10 field goal attempts.
 
Fifth year guard Jase Townsend added 14 points on 5-of-12 from the floor.
 
After missing 12 games due to injury, graduate forward Jaiden Delaire registered six points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes.
 
USD drops to 10-14 (3-7 WCC) on the season, and will host LMU on Saturday.   
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Portland held a slight 12-11 lead at the first timeout, despite USD shooting 5-of-7 (71%) from the field.
• McKinney and Jawara knocked down back-to-back triples to put San Diego ahead 17-15.
• Earlington scored six points in just over two minutes midway through the first. With 7:27 left, the teams were locked at 25-25.
• After Portland took a four-point lead, Townsend connected on two jumpers to tie the game at 35-35. The Pilots hit a late bucket to take a two-point halftime lead.
• Portland registered a 19-0 run in the beginning of the second half as San Diego missed eight straight field goal attempts. The Pilots built a 56-37 advantage before Delaire ended it with a straightaway three.
• Another 10-0 spurt from Portland extended its lead to 66-42 with 7:11 remaining.
• With just over three minutes to play, San Diego answered with an 8-0 run, including five from Townsend and a triple from Turner. The Pilots sealed the win with a jumper and a dunk under two minutes.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Earlington increased his scoring average to 17.0 points, which leads the team and ranks fifth in the WCC. He has scored 20+ points in five straight contests.
• Townsend scored in double figures for the 16^th time in 20 games.
• McKinney ended with nine points, three rebounds, and three assists.
• There were 10 ties and seven lead changes in the first half.
• Portland held an 18-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Each team grabbed 33 rebounds.

 
UP NEXT
USD will play its third straight home game on Saturday against LMU. USD holds a slight 54-53 lead in the all-time series. On January 14, the Lions earned a 98-84 win despite 24 points from Earlington and 21 points from Townsend.