SAN DIEGO – Led by an 18-0 run in the second half, the University of San Diego men's basketball team (11-14, 4-7 WCC) defeated LMU (16-9, 6-5 WCC) on Saturday, 87-79. The Lions led by 10 with 12:09 remaining before the home team mounted the comeback.
 
The Toreros shot a season-high 54.2% (26-48) from the field, including 42.1% (8-19) from long range and 81.8% (27-33) from the free throw line.
 
Fifth year guard Marcellus Earlington led all scorers with 30 points, shooting 10-of-14 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. He added six rebounds in 33 minutes.
 
Sophomore guard Deuce Turner registered a season-high 20 points and five assists after earning his second start, shooting 11-of-15 from the free throw line.
 
Junior Sigu Sisoho Jawara added 13 points in the win with an effective 5-of-9 from the floor.
 
Sophomore guard Wayne McKinney III contributed nine points and tied a career-high of eight rebounds. He added three assists and drew eight fouls, including multiple charges.
 
USD improves to 11-14 (4-7 WCC) on the season, and will travel to Santa Clara next Thursday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Earlington scored the first nine points for USD, helping the home team to a 9-4 advantage. A McKinney and-one extended the lead to eight.
• LMU battled back with a 9-0 run to take the lead. Deuce Turner connected on an and-one and a three-pointer midway through the first half, as USD led 22-20 with 10:31 left.
• Led by eight from Jawara, San Diego rattled off a 10-0 run to go ahead 36-26.
• USD was held without a field goal for the last 6:30, but held on to a 43-38 lead at halftime. Turner knocked down four free throws, while Jamerson hit three in that span.
• LMU hit four triples, including three from Cam Shelton over the first 2:21 of the second half.
• Deven Dahlke ended a 11-2 LMU run with a triple from the wing, slicing the deficit to 58-55. LMU answered with a quick 7-0 run, including a three with one second left on the shot clock.
• After the Lions took a nine-point lead with 10:19 left, USD erupted for an 18-0 run.
• LMU knocked down back-to-back threes to cut it to three, but the Toreros answered with another 7-0 spurt, all from Earlington.
• San Diego hit four more free throws in the last 28 seconds to seal the win, including two from Earlington and one each from McKinney and Turner.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Earlington increased his scoring average to 17.5 points, which leads the team and ranks fifth in the WCC. He has scored 20+ points in six straight contests, and has 30+ points three times in the last five games.
• Turner was one point shy of his career high of 21, set while at Bucknell on February 27, 2021.
• McKinney matched his career high of eight rebounds set against Portland on January 13, 2022.
• The Toreros improve to 8-7 at home this season.
• San Diego held a 27-11 advantage in fast break points. USD ranked 10^th nationally in fast break points per game coming in (15.75).
• Jamerson II and Lynch each contributed six points, all coming at big moments.
• There were 11 lead changes and nine ties in the game.

 
UP NEXT
USD will travel to Santa Clara on Thursday for a 7:00 PM contest. The Broncos hold a 53-39 lead in the all-time series, including two wins last season.