LAS VEGAS – San Diego Men's Hoops' 2024-25 season effectively came to an end in the second round of the 2025 Credit Union 1 WCC Championship, suffering a 74-100 defeat to No. 7 LMU Friday night at Orleans Arena. The Toreros finish with an overall record of 6-27.
 
The record isn't indicative of the fight the team put forth throughout the season. After a national-leading 13 players went down due to injury, the Toreros continued to rally around each other.  No matter the deficit they were backed up against, the team never backed down, battling back into contests amidst a conference ranked seventh in NET. Game after game, undeterred by previous results, they put together valiant efforts.
 
That translated to USD's ultimate game of the campaign, staging a second-half comeback with a 14-2 run, but ultimately falling short of extending the season.
 
Contrary to San Diego's tournament-opening win over Pacific the day prior that featured 21 lead changes, Friday's affair was one of runs and strong 3-point shooting. The Toreros made nine from beyond the arc in the second half but couldn't keep up with LMU's 57.1% shooting day from deep.
 
The Lions were led by Will Johnston, who scored 27 points on an 7-8 shooting night from three. Freshman guard Tony Duckett fronted the USD scoring contingent with 17 points. Redshirt-freshman Joey Chammaa had 15 with six assists. Senior center Steven Jamerson II and grad Deven Dahlke both score in double figures as well.
 
How it Happened

• After an early USD lead, LMU went on a 12-0 run, eventually becoming a 19-2 stretch to create a 13-point differential
• USD's shooting would start to heat up and the Lions 71.4% field goal and 66.7% 3-point shooting start began to cool
• San Diego went on a 12-0 run of their own, which eventually was a 16-2 hot streak in a five-minute span
• Lion 3-point shooting was revived to preserve the lead and eventually grow it to 42-30 at the half with a 17-3 run in the final 3:44 of the period
• Loyola Marymount opened the second half the way they closed the first: on a run; this time 8-0
• As has been the case all season, the Toreros wouldn't go down without a fight, however, going on a 9-0 and eventual 14-2 run to bring the game back within 11 inside eight minutes remaining behind four consecutive made threes
• LMU answered the call again though, and never looked back

 
Postgame Media
Postgame Press Conference (Head Coach Steve Lavin, freshman Tony Duckett and redshirt-freshman Joey Chammaa @ 8:58)
 
Senior Center Steven Jamerson II
On overall thoughts on the season…
There's a lot of lessons to be learned here, especially for myself. It's kind of a growth year for me, kind of figuring out how to not place so much pressure on myself and how I need to go into court, and it's not think so much about the future. Just stay focused on the game that I'm playing, stay in the present, focus on that, primarily grateful for the opportunity to commit to continue to compete and get better, nothing better than the step on that floor. 
 
On the group of seniors…
Love it. Every single one of these guys, I enjoy being around 24/7 at practices, meals, just hanging out outside of basketball. It's just been great this whole year. I wouldn't want to be with anybody else. I'm gonna miss these seniors as they go on to the next stages of their life. Hope for the best. I will still be in contact with them, of course. But you know, I'm gonna miss them. 
 
On the significance on ending regular season and starting postseason with wins…
Our team has always had the potential to be great and to win games. We just never really fully clicked and got on all cylinders. But you know, I'm excited for the future, to see what holds and see how we can do next season.
 
On the season theme of never giving up as a team…
That's been the story for us. We've always made sure to stay in the game, stay locked in and you know, I'm happy for that, happy for us that we never lost that edge to us because we don't want to lose, and we always show that we never want to lose, and just having that grit is perfect for our team. And that's kind of been our story, even last year a little bit. But, we always want to come back and win. We never want to lose. This sort of never giving up mentality that we have, that we come into, no matter how big the deficit, like even Washington State down by 30 at half then came back. Shoot, almost won. Yeah, we never quit. We're still playing. We still get to compete for that second task. Just keep working. 
 
On the meaning of the relationship with seniors Dominic Muncey, Deven Dahlke and Bendji Pierre to him...
On the court, I know they're dependable. I can always count on them to be great in everything they do. They always hustle, are always working, always grinding off the court. They're forever friendships, forever bonds. Can't wait to see what they achieve in the future, see their kids. Maybe they'll call me Uncle Steve or something. I don't know, but love those guys, and I can't wait to see what they do later on.