USD, Portland Try to Escape Cellar

The University of San Diego basketball team is keeping company with the University of Portland at the bottom of the West Coast Athletic Conference standings with 0-2 records.

Something must give, however, when the Pilots (10-7 overall) play host to the Toreros (11-6) tonight in the Earle A. Chiles Center at Portland.

USD dropped 2 1/2 games behind WCAC-leading Pepperdine (3-0) when it lost to Gonzaga on Thursday, 58-45, and Pepperdine beat the preseason conference favorite, Santa Clara, 53-52.

The Toreros, losers of two straight, are led by 6-foot 7-inch senior forward Anthony Reuss and 6-11 sophomore center Scott Thompson. Reuss, who is averaging 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, didn’t score on Thursday and had just 2 rebounds. Thompson, who is averaging 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds, was held to just 4 points.

Portland will be led by senior forward Darran Jenkins (6-8), who is averaging 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds, and senior forward Dave Flint (6-5), averaging 9.7 and 4.9.

This is the first meeting between the teams this season. USD beat the Pilots twice last season.