LAS VEGAS – Behind a WCC Tournament-record 19 made three-pointers, No. 8 Portland (14-18) defeated the No. 9 University of San Diego men's basketball team (11-20) in the first round, 92-74.
Nine different players scored for the Toreros, led by fifth year guard
Marcellus Earlington with 15 points and eight rebounds.
After missing the last six games, graduate guard
Eric Williams Jr. added 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
Sophomore guard
Deuce Turner contributed 12 points, including 3-of-3 from the free throw line.
Fifth year guard
Jase Townsend also scored in double figures with 10 points (5-11 FG).
USD finishes the season with an 11-20 record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Lynch scored the first points with a layup, but Portland answered with back-to-back triples.
- Three-pointers from Earlington and Jawara gave USD an early 9-8 lead, but the Pilots hit two more triples for another 6-0 run.
- San Diego rattled off a 6-0 run, including a dunk from Williams to tie the game at 18-18.
- Five straight points from Deuce Turner, including an and-one, put USD ahead 30-29 with 3:46 left in the first half.
- Portland hit two late free throws, and the teams went into the locker room locked at 35-35.
- Five straight points from Beniwal, including a triple, gave San Diego a two-point lead early in the second.
- Portland registered an 8-0 run midway through the frame to grab a 56-46 advantage.
- The Pilots hit four more triples in less than four minutes, and led 79-61 with 5:38 remaining. USD answered with a 7-0 run, including five from Turner.
- Portland hit 10 free throws in the last 3:19 to seal the win.
TORERO TIDBITS
- San Diego held a 19-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
- Townsend scored in double figures for the 20th time in 26 games.
- Earlington scored in double figures for the 12th straight game to end his college career.
- USD outscored Portland 28-8 in the paint.
- 19 of Portland's 26 made field goals were threes.
- Steven Jamerson II grabbed seven rebounds.
- The Pilots shot 62.5% FG, 58.8% 3FG, and 89.5% FT in the second half.
- Williams Jr. ends his college career with 1,755 points and 1,033 rebounds.
- Townsend compiled 1,733 points in 127 career games.
