The University of San Diego men’s basketball team lost two in a row when it fell to UC Santa Barbara, 67-57, on Saturday at The Thunderdome.
The Toreros (5-2) weren’t able to overcome two big runs by the Gauchos (6-2). Prior to the loss to San Diego State on Thurday, San Diego was 5-0, its best start since the 2013-14 season. The Gauchos limited the Toreros to 36.2 percent from the field. USD struggled at the free throw line, making 9-of-23.
“We shot a lot of foul shots in practice yesterday and today, we just have to get up to the line and shoot with more confidence,” Toreros coach Lamont Smith said. “We need to focus more, get in the gym on our own and get back to making shots.”
Both teams were slow to start with USD missing six of its first seven shots and UCSB missing seven of eight, but the Gauchos were able to recover and went on a 13-4 run for a 32-25 lead at the end of the first half.
The Toreros, however, started strong in the second half, going 7-0 to erase the deficit and a free throw by Isaiah Pineiro gave USD a 35-34 lead. The Gauchos then took control of the game with a 15-4 run and never lost the lead for the rest of the game.
USD didn’t go down easy. It responded back with a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 49-48, and that’s the closest the Toreros would get.
Olin Carter III and Isaiah Pineiro and scored 14 points each in the loss.
USD next faces New Mexico State on Wednesday in New Mexico.
