USD to Take Second Shot at St. Mary’s

After being bombarded with offense in four games over two weekends against Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount, the University of San Diego men’s basketball team faced defense-minded St. Mary’s College Wednesday in Moraga.

St. Mary’s is third in the NCAA in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense. The Toreros found out why, shooting just 39% from the field in a 70-45 loss at McKeon Pavilion. The 45 points were the fewest USD had scored this season.

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the USD Sports Center, the Toreros get another shot at figuring out the Gaels’ mixture of zone defenses.

Three years ago, St. Mary’s finished 10-17, 3-11 (seventh in the West Coast Athletic Conference). The following year under new Coach Lynn Nance, the Gaels were 17-13, 7-7. Last season, they were 19-9, 9-5.

This season, with five senior starters and a good supporting cast, St. Mary’s is 21-3 and 9-2. USD Coach Hank Egan and others say this private school of 2,200 students is headed for the NCAA tournament regardless of its finish in the WCAC tournament March 4-6.

USD, on the other hand, has lost five games in a row and 12 of 13 for a record of 6-17, 1-10 in the WCAC.