Colleges : USD Never Gets Into the Game, Loses Its First to Santa Barbara

The University of San Diego men’s basketball team, attempting to get off to its first 4-0 start since the program went to NCAA Division I in 1979, lost for the first time this season Saturday, 76-58, at UC Santa Barbara.

The Toreros (3-1) fell behind, 39-19, by halftime against the Gauchos (3-0) and were unable to make up the deficit in the second half.

“They took us out of everything,” Coach Hank Egan said. “They’re a very good team with good quickness. This is the first team that flat came after us like we’ve gone after other teams this season.”

USD shot 36% (20 of 56), its worst shooting night thus far this season. Santa Barbara, which made the NCAA tournament field last season, shot 49% (27 of 55).

For USD, sophomore center Dondi Bell had 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots; Efrem Leonard added 13 points and 5 steals, and Craig Cottrell added 10 points.

Forward Mike Doyle led Santa Barbara with 19 points and 7 rebounds.

“We had not seen that kind of deal (defense, full-court pressure),” Egan said, “and we responded like a young basketball team.”

Santa Barbara opened a 7-2 lead in the first 5 minutes and extended that to 21-10 with 7:23 remaining in the half on Eric McArthur’s 2 free throws. The Gauchos went up by as many as 22 points, 37-15, with 2:02 to go on a 10-foot jumper by Doyle.

With 10 minutes to play in the game, the Toreros closed to 52-36 but couldn’t get any closer. USD made 1 of 11 3-point attempts and was outrebounded (44-36) for the first time this season.

The Toreros play host to Cal State Fullerton Thursday at the USD Sports Center at 7:30 p.m.