The University of San Diego (USD) will face off against the University of San Francisco (USF) in a West Coast Conference showdown on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. USD enters the match with an overall record of 11-16 and a WCC record of 5-9, while USF holds a record of 14-13 and 6-8 in conference play. Historically, San Francisco leads the all-time series with 53 wins to USD’s 42.
In their last outing, USD secured a significant 71-58 victory over Portland, showcasing resilience and adaptability following the departure of leading scorer Ty-Laur Johnson, who is set to enter the transfer portal for the third consecutive year. In light of Johnson’s absence, the Toreros adjusted their lineup, with guard Emmanuel Callas stepping into the starting role and earning accolades from coach Steve Lavin for his defensive contributions. USD benefited from strong performances by Juanse Gorosito, who scored 19 points, and Toneari Lane, who added 14. The team showed improvement in the second half, outscoring the Pilots 44-27.
Despite the challenges posed by Johnson’s exit, USD remains powered by a guard-oriented offense, with Lane, Gorosito, and Adrian McIntyre leading the scoring efforts, averaging 10.6, 10.3, and 9.6 points per game, respectively.
On the other hand, USF is looking to bounce back from a tough stretch, having lost three straight games and five of their last six. The Dons previously defeated USD in their first matchup this season, a 74-64 win on January 2. Ryan Beasley is the standout player for San Francisco, leading the team with an average of 14.1 points per game, along with 90 assists and 31 steals. David Fuchs contributes significantly as well, boasting averages of 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while Tyrone Riley IV adds 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds.
As both teams prepare for this matchup, USD will be keen on sustaining their momentum from the previous victory, while USF seeks to regain their footing in hopes of turning their season around. Following this game, USD will take on Loyola Marymount next Saturday at 3 p.m., adding further excitement to their schedule.