USD Faces Marist With Hopes on Line

Through its first six games, the University of San Diego men’s basketball team had a different high scorer in each. Coach Hank Egan’s young players were loose, playing well, upsetting talented teams and 4-2.

Since then, USD has lost three in a row--twice on the road and Wednesday at home against North Texas (81-77 in overtime).

USD (4-5) hopes to turn things around tonight at 7:30 against Marist College (3-4) in the USD Sports Center.

In nine games, USD is averaging 71.3 points. Opponents are scoring 70.7. USD is shooting 45%--the same as its opponents. The Toreros have out-rebounded opponents, 336 to 316, have 10 more blocked shots, 8 more 3-pointers and 1 fewer steal.

It is the free-throw line where USD is struggling. “We have to shoot 70% to win at this level,” Egan said.

USD is shooting 61%. Only two players are over 70%--freshman Wayman Strickland at 78% and junior Craig Cottrell at 71%. Senior Danny Means, a career 80% free-throw shooter, is at 44% (just 4 of 9).

Marist is led by 6-foot 11-inch center Miroslav Pecarski (22.3 points per game).