SAN DIEGO — USD men's basketball will round out its five-game home stand to start the relaunch season, hosting UC Riverside on Friday night 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 USD all-time leading scorer Johnny Dee (Analyst, X: @dee1Johnny) calling the action. Inside coverage can also be found on the @USDMBB social channels.

THE HIGHLANDER RUNDOWN

• UC Riverside comes to the Jenny Craig Pavilion on a three game losing streak ... Their two wins were against non-DI Las Sierra and on the road in a nine-day home-and-home with North Dakota ... Opponents are averaging 42.4 points in the paint per game vs. UCR, 47.5 in the last four game vs. DI opposition ... The nickname "Highlander" relates to the campus' elevated location and ties to the rugged Scottish Highlands

• The Toreros hold a 10-4 all-time advantage vs. the Highlanders, an undefeated 4-0 at home, having won nine of the last 10 matchups

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

- In a roller-coaster of a game, San Diego held on for a 78-68 victory over Grambling State Tuesday night in the Jenny Craig Pavilion behind strong defense and free throw shooting down the stretch.

- The Toreros, now 3-1 on the season, led for a total of 39 minutes and by as much as 18 points in the first half before the visiting Tigers slowly whittled away, eventually taking their first and only lead inside 10 minutes remaining. USD responded and held the Tigers at by holding them without a field goal in a near six-minute span at the end of the game, and finished the game a stellar 31-for-32 at the free throw line.

- Grad wing Toneari Lane and junior guard Ty-Laur Johnson led the balanced USD scoring contingent with 15 points apiece. Johnson added a game-high six assists. It was the team's first game with four double-digit scorers, as senior guard Juanse Gorosito added 13 and junior forward Vuk Boskovic posted 11.

- San Diego came out of the gates hot, shooting at a high rate.

- Grambling State's head coach was assessed a double technical and ejected from the game 12 minutes in, in the midst of an 11-0 and eventual 16-3 Torero run.

- USD led by as much as 18 with six minutes remaining in the half, but a nine-point Tiger swing saw the lead go down to nine points, 35-26 at the break.

- The Toreros, who entered the game seventh in the nation in 3-point shooting, suddenly went cold from deep as if a lid was put over the bucket, epitomized by a Boskovic three that swirled around the rim multiple times before popping out.

- Meanwhile, Grambling State was efficient in the paint and in transition.

- The Tigers finally tied the game and took the lead on a pair of free throws at 52-51 with 10 minutes remaining.

- Both teams struggled from the field in the closing six minutes as the Toreros were without a field goal for over four minutes but also held the Tigers without a make on the floor from the 6:37 mark all the way up until 42 seconds remaining.

- At that point, the Toreros had put the game to bed with a free throw discrepancy over the visitors, converting on their late opportunities to hold out for a 10-point win.

NOTABLE VS. GRAMBLING STATE

- San Diego went 31-32 (96.7%) from the free throw line, while Grambling State was 18-31 (58.1%) … The Toreros made their last 25 attempts at the charity stripe

- The Toreros led for 38:57 of game time, their second consecutive game leading for over 35 of 40 total min.

- Grambling State entered the game with seven threes per game at a solid 37% clip but were kept to just 2-13 from beyond the arc by the Torero defense

- Junior center Piotr Winkowski had three of the team's seven blocks, matching his season high from his first career start last time out

- Lane is the last on the sharp-shooting USD team with multiple made threes in each of the four games this season after he made three-plus for a third time (season 52% 3PT)

SHARP SHOOTERS

• San Diego ranks 16th nationally (as high as fifth this season) in 3-point percentage (41.7%) and ninth nationally in free throw percentage (82.3%)

• The Toreros are led by grad guard Toneari Lane who is 13-25 (52%) from beyond the arc


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