USD Wins Fifth Straight, Downs Southwest Texas

Hank Egan’s assesment of his University of San Diego basketball team’s readiness for next week’s WCAC opener was about as conclusive as the Toreros’ 67-56 win Thursday night against Southwest Texas State University in the USD Sports Center.

“We’re still not ready,” Egan said. “I don’t think we are. Well, maybe we are. It’s one of those things where you never know what’s going on in everybody’s mind. “

Egan has one more nonconference chance to find out what his players are thinking when USD hosts Southwest Baptist University Saturday. Then, ready or not, the Toreros begin defense of their WCAC title when they host Pepperdine Jan. 19.

Egan is hoping his team will play consistent basketball on both ends of the court--something the Toreros couldn’t do Thursday before 462 fans in the Sports Center.

The Toreros had trouble developing any kind of consistent defensive pattern, and they were also troubled when the Bobcats pressed late in the game.

But USD (10-4) did win its fifth straight game of the season and 14th straight at home. But the Toreros weren’t convincing against a Southwest Texas State team in its first season at the Division 1 level.

“We’ve got to be able to sustain both the offense and the defense,” Egan said. “We’ve got to move better without the ball and find ways of releasing pressure (when teams press).”

The Bobcats (4-7) kept themselves out of the game in the first half by shooting 25% from the field and committing 13 fouls. The fouls put USD in the bonus situation early, and the Toreros took advantage of it by converting 13 of 15 free throws for a 31-18 halftime lead. The Bobcats made all of their first-half free throws but only shot four.

USD forward Anthony Reuss led all scorers in the first half with 11 points, hitting on 7 of 9 free throw attempts. Reuss finished with a game-high 20 points.

In the second half, the Bobcats were able to erase USD’s advantage at the foul line. Southwest Texas State outscored USD at the free throw line, 12-10, in the second half and finished the game without a miss in 16 free throw attempts.

But Southwest Texas State was still outshot from the floor, where the Toreros hit 56% of their shots to the Bobcats 46%.

USD maintain its 13-point lead, 55-42, with 4:24 remaining in the game. USD center Scott Thompson scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half.

The Bobcats did give the Toreros trouble with their press in the game’s final minutes. But with time running out, the Bobcats were forced to foul USD.

Forward Mitch Ferguson and guard Arthur Williams led the Bobcats in scoring with 10 points apiece.