Toreros Shut Down Ohio Northern, 54-28

The University of San Diego defeated Ohio Northern, 54-28, Friday night in a nonconference basketball game in the USD Sports Center.

USD (9-3) limited Ohio Northern to nine field goals, pulling away to a 26-12 halftime lead en route to its fourth straight victory. Ohio Northern, the only Division III team on USD’s schedule, is 7-6.

Mark Manor scored 11 points and Nils Madden added 10, all in the first half, to lead the Toreros. USD opens its West Coast Athletic Conference season Thursday night at the University of Portland.

In its last four victories, all at home, USD has limited its opposition to an average of 45 points a game. In a victory over Rice two weeks ago, the Toreros allowed only 13 first-half points. USD allowed Colorado only 14 points in the first half in a victory Wednesday night.

Friday, Ohio Northern hit just six first-half field goals. In the second half, USD’s defense was even better, holding Ohio Northern without a field goal until just six minutes remained. By that time, USD had its starters out of the game and led, 44-20.

Ohio Northern made just 20% of its shots (9 for 44) and just 12% in the second half (3 for 24).

“We won this game by a lot of points, but they made us work for everything,” USD Coach Hank Egan said. “They controlled the tempo on offense and it took some of the juice out of us.”

Scott Thompson, USD’s 7-foot senior center, was held to seven points. He made a free throw to extend his current streak to 33 straight from the line. The last time Thompson missed was against Cal State Long Beach in the Toreros’ seventh game of the season.