PALM DESERT, Calif. — Torero hoops hits the road for the first time of the season, taking on Cal Baptist at a neutral site in Acrisure Arena Tuesday as a part of the Acrisure Series.
The game will not be televised, but can be exclusively streamed on radio on USDToreros.com/watch with Voice of the Toreros Jack Cronin (X: @JackCroninPXP) calling the action.
THE LANCER RUNDOWN
• Cal Baptist enters the matchup an undefeated 5-0, having beaten common opponents UC Riverside (80-57) and Grambling State (72-59) ... The Lancers were picked in the preseason to win the WAC
• Tuesday will be just the second ever recorded meeting between the meetings ... CBU claimed the first by a score of 76-73 on Dec. 10, 2022
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
- San Diego basketball fell by a score of 85-71 on Friday, Nov. 21 to UC Riverside at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, as the Toreros dropped the final game of their opening five-game home stand
- Graduate guard Adrian McIntyre led the Toreros with a season-high 15 points in the loss ... Junior forward Vuk Boskovic was just behind with 14 points of his own and a game-high five assists, while junior center Assane Diop headlined his team's efforts on the glass with seven rebounds, to go with a block and a steal
- After a sluggish shooting start, the Toreros never fully recovered. USD trailed by as much as 20 points but didn't back down, cutting the deficit down to 10 with over seven and a half minutes left through more efficient scoring from the floor, particularly in the paint, where UCR has allowed 42.4 points per game this season
- A San Diego three attempt that would have cut the deficit to single digits with plenty of game left just clipped the back of the rim, was rebounded by the Highlanders, who hit a 3-pointer in transition to suddenly make it a 13-point game, ceding the Torero momentum
- USD, who entered the game top-20 in the nation in 3-point shooting, shot at a 28% clip from deep, while the visiting Highlanders were 47.1% from three ... UCR also edged the Toreros overall from the field, 54.5% to 42.4%
SHARP SHOOTERS
• San Diego ranks 35th nationally (as high as fifth this season) in 3-point percentage (39.1%) and ninth nationally in free throw percentage (80.2%)
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