SAN DIEGO — Torero hoops looks to continue its momentum as it faces a first-time foe, hosting the Grambling State Tigers on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m., in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Voice of the Toreros Jack Cronin (PxP, X: @JackCroninPXP) and Braden Surprenant (Analyst, X: @b_surp) calling the action. Inside coverage can also be found on the @USDMBB social channels.
THE TIGER RUNDOWN
• Grambling State is 3-1, starting their first couple of games of the season in blowout fashion, with a non-DI victory before losing at No. 16 Iowa State 102-62 … The Tigers are on a two game win streak after beating Howard 73-70 on the road and Southern Mississippi 75-70
• Tuesday will be the Toreros' first ever matchup against the Grambling State Tigers, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) ... The last time USD faced an HBCU, it hosted Jackson State in the 2023-24 season and won 87-61 ... Grambling State is the third opponent in the Toreros' first four games with a big cat mascot
THE RELAUNCH
• With a reloaded roster of 14 newcomers and the unprecedented investments being made in the program both financially and through support staff and new facilities, the 2025-26 campaign is being described as 'the relaunch' of USD Men's Basketball under fourth-year head coach Steve Lavin
LAST TIME OUT
- USD hung tough to earn a gritty 78-74 victory over Idaho on Wednesday, Nov. 12, leading for all but four minutes as it fended off a staunch comeback attempt from the Vandals down the stretch
- San Diego blazed the stat sheet from beyond the arc, shooting 52% (13-25) from deep led by seven total threes from the Toreros' backcourt pairing of senior Juanse Gorosito (4-for-6, 22 points) in his 100th-career game and junior Ty-Laur Johnson (career-high 3-for-5, 21 points) ... The duo worked together to rack up 43 of USD's 78 total points on the night
- The Toreros opened up an early run to lead by six at the first media timeout
- A 10-0 run ignited a 9-point USD lead and forcing an Idaho timeout inside ten minutes
- San Diego led by as much as 14 but had a 38-27 advantage by halftime as the Toreros had 10 assists on 14 made field goals, 7-14 from three while the Vandals were 1-7 with nine turnovers
- Idaho had a 10-0 run of its own early in the second period, bringing the game back to within one
- After the Vandals remained within a couple scores for a large portion of the half, they finally evened the score for the first time since 11-11 at 67-67 inside four minutes to go
- A field goal disparity down the stretch proved crucial to the Torero win as USD finished on a 5-for-5 stretch – also converting clutch free throws – while the guests went 1-for-9 to end the game
NOTABLE VS. IDAHO
- San Diego only trailed for 55 seconds, early in the game, leading for 88.7% of the game
- The Toreros shot 60% from the field in the second half, 54.5% (6-11) from three
- Junior forward Vuk Boskovic led the Toreros with six rebounds and six assists to add to his 13 total points, three made 3-pointers
- In his first start of the season, junior center Piotr Winkowski put up six points, and a game-high three blocks
- As a team, the Toreros dished out 16 total assists with nine total steals
- Gorosito also totaled a game-high four steals
SHARP SHOOTERS
• San Diego ranks seventh in the nation in 3-point percentage at 47.2% (34-72)
• Seven of eight Toreros that have made a three on the season are shooting over 50% from beyond the arc inclduing each of the four student-athletes with minimum eigth attempts, led by Ty-Laur Johnson (5-8, .625) and Toneari Lane (10-17, .588)
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