SAN DIEGO — San Diego men's basketball dropped an 85-76 decision on Tuesday evening to Portland State at the Jenny Craig Pavilion as the Torero clawed back from a 21-point deficit to within four.

Sophomore guard Keyon Kensie Jr. led the Toreros with a career-high 20 points in the loss. Steven Jamerson II and Kody Clouet added 13 more apiece, while Jamerson II headlined his team's efforts on defense with two blocks and five rebounds, nine boards in total.

USD (1-2, 0-0 WCC) was down by six early on but was able to take a short-lived lead with 12:24 remaining when five straight points from Kensie Jr. put San Diego ahead 17-16.

The Vikings (2-1, 0-0 Big Sky) answered back right away to go up 18-17, and the Toreros didn't lead again after going the final 5:23 of the opening half without making a field goal. At the break, USD was down 51-33.

San Diego held Portland State scoreless for nearly four minutes as the second half got underway, and used a 9-0 run to pull back within 12 when Kensie Jr. reached a new career-high in points with a fastbreak layup that moved the score to 59-44.

By the 6:31 mark, USD had cut the deficit to 10 on a floater in the lane from Dragos Lungu, having held the Vikings without a field goal for another four-plus minutes. A pair of free throws from Kjay Bradley Jr. made it a nine-point game at 67-58, then a layup in the paint from Jamerson II kept it there at 69-60. PSU responded with a deep three at the five-minute mark to make it a 12-point game again before an 8-0 San Diego run fueled by Kody Clouet and Bradley Jr. pulled the Toreros within four at 74-70 with 1:55 to go, but they got no closer.

NOTABLE

• USD outscored the guests 43-34 in the second half, 37-17 in second-chance points and 31-21 in bench points
• Dragos Lungu added 12 points while shooting 5-9 from the field
• Clouet had a team-high three steals
• Jamerson II's nine total rebounds led the game
• Freshmen Gavin Ripp (2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block) and Chas Lewless (2 points, +1 +/-) made their collegiate debuts

UP NEXT
The Toreros will look to bounce back as they host Idaho State on Saturday, Nov. 16, with tip set for noon PT in the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The matchup will be San Diego's fourth as a part of a seven-game home stand to start the season, hosting the Bengals, who are also 1-2 entering Saturday.