LOS ANGELES – San Diego Men's Hoops came up just shy of an in-conference upset again, this time by a final score of 60-67 at LMU Saturday, while the Toreros botched a go-ahead dunk and missed a tying free throw, both inside 32 seconds remaining.
 
Freshman guard Tony Duckett scored a San Diego freshman record and team season-best 31 points on 11 made field goals and four threes. The Carlsbad, Calif. native had a career-high 20 points in the first half alone.
 
The Toreros also had a solid team performance, coming back from down 13 in the second half to tie the game and even take the lead with under four minutes to go. San Diego outrebounded the NET No. 150 Lions by nine and made more shots from the field, but 13 less free throws on 17 less attempts.
 
Graduate guard Kody Clouet was the other Torero in double figures with 10 points while redshirt-freshman Joey Chammaa was the igniting spark behind the Toreros run to come back from the deficit.
 
Notable

• San Diego has now come within seven points in three conference losses
• Duckett's 31 points is the most by a Torero since Wayne Mckinney's 31 on Feb. 10, 24 vs. Pacific
• Duckett becomes the fifth different Torero to score 20-plus, the 10^th time a San Diego player has reached the mark this season, first over 28 and first freshman
• It is the sixth time a Torero has scored 31-plus against LMU, more than against any other team in now 26 total Torero 31-plus point games
• Duckett's 11 made field goals ties the most by a Torero this season
• USD sent out it's 12^th different starting lineup of the season
• San Diego had 28 rebounds at halftime (+10), the Lions finished with 28 … San Diego had 12 total offensive rebounds and 13 second chance points

 
How it Happened

• Head Coach Steve Lavin plugged senior guard Dominic Muncey back into the lineup for the first time since Nov. 22, the 12^th different Torero starting five of the season
• Duckett scored San Diego's first 10 points of the game, while Steven Jamerson II had six of USD's following eight, pushing a lead of as much as six
• The Toreros shot 69.2% from the field in the first 10 minutes or quarter of game action
• It was a very fast-paced game to start, with the Lions shooting well too, staying in the game with five made threes by halftime
• After San Diego's blitzing start, the Toreros went cold for five minutes, seeing LMU take the lead for the first time and by as much as nine
• The hosts had a drought of their own, however, allowing the Toreros to get the score to 32-36 at the half
• Duckett's hot hand stayed hot to start the second half, but like several of his teammates, went cold again
• LMU would break away, leading by as much as 13 with 14 minutes to go
• Duckett hit two big threes and Clouet and pull-up jumper to bring the deficit back down to two inside nine minutes
• Chammaa was an x-factor in the ensuing minutes, contributing a 3-pointer, a steal, a floater, and more to see the Toreros eventually tie the game then take the lead for the first time since early in the first half at 69-67 with 3:45 to go
• LMU took the lead back with an and-one on the ensuing possession
• Both teams would go on scoring droughts of nearly three minutes, the USD perimeter defense permitting just one made three in the second half after LMU hot first half from beyond the arc
• The score read 69-70, the clock just 35 ticks remaining … San Diego drew up a play to Jamerson II, who slipped through for an uncontested go-ahead dunk, but the ball slipped out of his fingertips and parried off the back of the rim
• Up two now after a made free throw, LMU fouled sophomore forward Santiago Trouet with 32 seconds remaining, who made his first free throw but missed the second to tie the game
• The hosts converted on their free throws in the closing seconds to finish seven-point winners

 
Up Next
In five days time, the Toreros travel to Portland, Ore. to take on the 6-14, 1-6 in WCC play Pilots on Thursday night at 7 p.m..

Postgame Quotes

USD Head Coach Steve Lavin

Our team competed and demonstrated grit in fighting back from a 13 point second half deficit to take the lead and we played well enough to give us an opportunity to win, but ultimately did not capitalize on our late game offensive opportunities, so the outcome is disappointing. In three of our last four WCC games we have definitely made strides with regard to improving as a team on both sides of the ball. We will continue to focus on minimizing the specific miscues that have undermined our efforts to get back in the win column. Joey Chamma once again sparked a comeback with his hustle, playmaking and timely scoring. It was also good to see Kody [Clouet] find some offensive rhythm and contribute in a significant manner. The elephant in the room though is that Tony Duckett's offensive shooting performance was as impressive as any that I can recall in my career for a freshman. The next step for Tony's development is to improve his consistency with regard to defensive focus and playmaking skills that will complement his scoring prowess.