USD’s Balanced Attack Turns Back USF, 77-74

Fifteen-foot jump shots and rebounds by University of San Diego forward Mark Manor. Rebounds and inside power moves by forward Nils Madden.

A steady floor game and a couple of three-pointers by point guard Paul Leonard. Key rebounds and inside moves from reserve center Steve Krallman.

There is a lot more to the USD basketball team than 7-foot center Scott Thompson, who is an integral part of his team but by no means all of it.

In a collective effort by an experienced team, USD defeated the University of San Francisco, 77-74, in front of 3,855 fans in Memorial Gym Friday night.

It was the third straight West Coast Athletic Conference victory for the Toreros, who improved their first-place record to 4-1, a half game ahead of Gonzaga.

Playing without Thompson for 4 1/2 of the final 6 1/2 minutes, the Toreros increased their lead from five points (60-55) to six (68-62). Thompson was taken out of the game when he picked up his fourth foul with 6:25 remaining.

“I have more confidence lately playing without Scott (Thompson) than I would have earlier in the year,” USD Coach Hank Egan said. “I think the team does too. If Scott’s the guy, he’s the guy. If he’s not, we go someplace else.”

His players agree.

“If he’s (Thompson) not in there, we seem to move the ball more,” Manor said. “We don’t have the big man we can always throw it to.”

“When Scott’s not in there,” Madden said, “we have to play more aggressively.”

Thompson still finished with a team-high 18 points, but 8 came in the first four minutes of the game and he wasn’t a major factor in the second half.

Manor had 14 points and 6 rebounds (10 points and 3 rebounds in the second half) and Madden had 12 points and 4 rebounds (10 points and 2 rebounds in the second half).

Leonard had 13 points and Krallman had 10 points and 3 rebounds.

“The key to our success is that we’re not a one-man team,” Thompson said. “This was a great win for us.”

USD is 13-4 and off to its best start since joining NCAA Division I in the 1979-80 season. It has won eight of its last nine.

The only time USD won the WCAC championship was in 1983-84, which was also Jim Brovelli’s last season as USD coach.

“We were more of a finesse team (in 1983-84),” said Brovelli, who now coaches USF. “This is more of a power team. And they’re a very experienced team.”

USD defeated USF by 12 points last Saturday night at San Diego and it has won all four meetings since Brovelli took over at USF.

Friday night, the Toreros jumped out to an early six-point lead but led by only one (38-37) at halftime despite shooting 68% from the field. They were hurt by 10 turnovers.

The lead changed hands during the first part of the second half. USD never trailed after Leonard hit a bank shot to put the Toreros on top, 54-53, with 10:30 to play.

USD extended its lead to nine points, 68-59 with 2:26 to play, but USF guard Mike D’Aloisio hit two three-point shots and the the Dons were back in the game at 75-72 with 35 seconds to play.

But the Dons (12-6, 2-3) did not get any closer as they went down to their third straight defeat. It was only the second defeat at home for USF, which is 10-2.