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USF Men's Basketball Downs San Diego 72-70 in Overtime Thriller
Feb. 4, 2010
(San Diego) - Freshman guard Michael Williams converted on a 4-point play to lead the Dons to a thrilling 72-70 overtime triumph against San Diego Thursday night at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The Dons (9-14, 4-4 WCC) collect their second consecutive overtime win after defeating No. 13/8 Gonzaga Saturday and complete the season sweep against the Toreros (9-15, 2-6 WCC).
Senior All-American Dior Lowhorn scored 26 points on 11-of-18 from the field to go along with six rebounds. Williams turned in the finest game of his young career with 20 and went 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Kwame Vaughn chipped in 11 points.
After a slow start, San Francisco shot .491 (26-53) from the floor, including .429 (9-21) from deep. The Dons held the Toreros to .381 (8-21) from the field in the second half, but USD hit at a .490 (25-51) rate for the game, .429 (9-21) from 3-point range. Both teams collected 30 rebounds and after coughing up 10 turnovers in the first half, the Dons committed just four miscues after intermission.
After trailing by as many nine points in the second half, USF built a seven point edge, 58-51 with 4:31 left in regulation on a 3-pointer by Williams. The Dons would not score again as the Toreros forced overtime on a 7-0 run.
Once in the extra session, San Diego built a 4-point lead, 69-65 with 0:28 remaining, setting the stage for more heroics from Williams. The freshman drilled a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left and then off a missed free throw and a mad drive up the court converted a 4-point play to lift San Francisco to another thrilling win.
"It was one of those games where I didn't think we played our best, but we found a way to get it done," USF head coach Rex Walters said. "I'm proud of the way the team stayed together. It was not easy."
San Francisco got off to an agonizingly slow start and trailed 16-4 at the 14:13 mark. The Dons pulled to within four, 20-16 on a Williams 3-pointer with 8:55 left, but USD rebuilt a 11-point lead, 28-17 courtesy of an 8-1 run. Lowhorn led the way for the Dons with 13 points, while Williams added eight.
USF shot .455 (10-22) from the floor, but did a poor job taking care of the basketball and committed 10 turnovers. The Toreros hit at a .542 (13-24) clip before intermission and went .545 (6-11) from long distance. Senior guard Brandon Johnson was a one-man wrecking crew scoring 14 points with four 3-pointers for San Diego.
USF returns to action Saturday, February 6 when it travels across the Bay Bridge to take on longtime Bay Area rival Saint Mary's. Game time against the Gaels is set for 8:00 PM and will be carried live on the flagship station of Dons Basketball Green 960 and televised on Comcast SportsNet California.
