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 ... The Tigers are 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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