PACIFIC’S OFFENSE OVERWHELMS TOREROS

Despite shooting a crisp 51.5 percent from the field and getting 34 points from senior guard Jase Townsend, the University of San Diego Toreros fell 99-94 at Pacific Saturday night.

USD (11-16, 4-9 West Coast Conference) has dropped four of five overall and Pacific (13-14, 5-6 WCC) swept the season series.

On a night when both teams had no problem creating and making shots, Pacific’s edge came from 3-point shooting.

The Tigers made 16 of 33 from long range while USD went 12 of 26.

Keylan Boone led Pacific with 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting, also contributing five rebounds and four assists.

Pacific led by as many as 16 points in the second half, yet, largely due to Townsend’s hot shooting, the Toreros drew within three points five different times late in the game. But they could get no closer.

Townsend was one of five Toreros to score in double figures, but the main issue for coach Steve Lavin’s team was defense — the Tigers scored against man-toman and zone looks.

USD held a 30-26 lead at the 6:40 mark but Pacific carried a 5242 lead into halftime. The Tigers shot a blistering 62.5 percent from the field while making 10-17 from 3-point range.

The Toreros mixed defenses but nothing slowed the Tigers. Jordan Ivey-curry scored 13 of his 25 points in the first half, and Boone notched 15 and closed the scoring in the half with a pair of 3balls to cap an 18-8 run.

USD played without senior guard Eric Williams Jr. (foot) for the second straight game and senior forward Jaiden Delaire (foot) for a third straight game.