USF Men's Basketball Closes Regular Season in Southern California at LMU & Pepperdine

Feb. 25, 2009

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USF CLOSES OUT 2009 REGULAR SEASON: San Francisco closes out the 2009 regular season on the road with a Southern California swing, beginning Thursday at Loyola Marymount. The Dons are coming off perhaps their best effort of the season - a thrilling 67-66 overtime victory against ancient Bay Area rival Santa Clara to cap Homecoming Week on the Hilltop. After taking on the Lions in Gersten Pavilion, USF tackles surprising Pepperdine in a Saturday matinee in Malibu in the regular season finale. Seedings for the 2009 West Coast Conference Tournament will be announced after all contests are completed on Saturday.

LOWHORN 18TH ON CAREER SCORING LIST: Junior forward Dior Lowhorn continues to charge up the USF career scoring lists and became the 30th USF player to surpass 1,000 career points in the Green and Gold with 22 points at Portland (1/15/09). Lowhorn enters Thursday's contest at Loyola Marymount with 1,176 career points in 58 games for a 20.3 points per game average. The Bay Area product currently rates 18th on the Dons all-time scoring ladder.

FOUR USF PLAYERS SUSPENDED: USF head coach Rex Walters has suspended four student-athletes until further notice - senior center James Morgan, senior guard Manny Quezada, junior center Hyman Taylor and freshman guard Chioke Walker - for not complying with his instructions during practice. None will return in 2008-09.

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: San Francisco has posted three of its best efforts in its last three contests, despite competing with a roster of eight players. The Dons gave second place Portland all it could handle in a 72-67 setback (2/12/09) and followed it with their best effort of the season in a 78-73 loss to No. 19 Gonzaga (2/14/09). USF broke through for a 67-66 overtime victory against Santa Clara (2/21/09).

In the last three games...
- USF has taken excellent care of the basketball, averaging 8.3 turnovers, including a season-low seven vs. No. 19 Gonzaga (2/14/09), while forcing 15.7
- Dons have shot .375 (27-72) from 3-point range, averaging 9.0 per game, including a season-high 14 treys vs. No. 19 Gonzaga (2/14/09)
- USF has made more free throws (50-69) than its opponents have taken (32-44)

USF AT A GLANCE
- USF's offense ranks fourth among WCC Team Leaders in scoring (67.3) and rates third in 3-point field goal percentage .362 (186-514) and second in 3-pointers (186)
- USF's six newcomers averaging 33.5 points, 16.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game and account for .497 of the Dons offense
- With two games remaining in the 2008-09 regular season, USF has made 29 more three 3-pointers than the 2007-08 squad managed in 31 games - .332 (157-473)
- Junior forward Dior Lowhorn leads WCC in overall (20.3) and league (20.2) scoring. Lowhorn led the league in both categories in 2008.

USF DONS BASKETBALL ON GREEN 960 AM: USF men's basketball returns to the airwaves and cyberspace for the 2008-2009 season and all games will be available live at USFDons.com, with the bulk of the schedule available on Green 960 AM. Join Pat Olson for the play-by-play in his 18th year behind the microphone courtside. USF Hall-of-Famer Jim Brovelli will join Olson on selected broadcasts. Other features available on USFDons.com include live scoring via GameTracker, courtesy of CBS Sports.

TUNE IN TO THE Rex Walters SHOW: Each Monday from now until the end of the season, USF head coach Rex Walters will do a coaches show, hosted by veteran voice of the Dons Pat Olson. The show will provide a recap of the previous week's action along with a preview of the upcoming West Coast Conference contests.

Dior Lowhorn - 2008 WCC FIRST TEAM AND LEAGUE SCORING LEADER: After sitting out the entire 2006-07 season under NCAA transfer rules, junior forward Dior Lowhorn made up for lost time in his first season in the Green and Gold. The Texas Tech transfer and Bay Area native turned in a prolific sophomore campaign for the Dons and led the West Coast Conference in scoring in overall (20.5) and WCC (20.5) contests - the first USF player to pace the league in scoring in both categories since John Cox accomplished the feat in 2004-05 (20.0/19.9). Lowhorn scored 636 points last season, good for fourth place on the Dons single-season scoring charts. A 2008 Mid-Major All-American and a All-WCC First Team pick - the first USF underclassmen tabbed since Gerald Walker in 1995 - Lowhorn scored at least 20 points in 18 games, including a career-high 29 at No. 12 Oregon (11/24/07). Lowhorn led the Dons with five double-double nights last season and scored 19 points six times and was the only USF player to reach double-digit scoring in every game. Lowhorn was named to the 2008-09 WCC Preseason Team, as selected by the league's head coaches.

Dior Lowhorn AMONG NATIONAL SCORING LEADERS: Junior forward Dior Lowhorn ranked No. 27 among final 2007-08 NCAA Division I scoring leaders at 20.5 points per game. Lowhorn is the first Don to crack the top-30 on the NCAA scoring list since John Cox (1999-05) did so as a senior. Lowhorn (20.0) ranked No. 30 among Division I leaders as of February 23, 2009.

LOWHORN SURPASSES 1,400 CAREER POINTS: With a 23-point night at USC (12/1/08) junior forward Dior Lowhorn surpassed 1,000 combined career points and enters Thursday's game at Loyola Marymount with 1,406 points with 1,176 coming at USF and 230 at Texas Tech. Last year, the San Franciscan ranked fourth in USF single-season scoring history in his first year on the Hilltop, finishing with 636 points.

NEW FACES PRODUCING IN THE DONS BACKCOURT: Three backcourt newcomers are making their presence felt for USF in their first year in the Green and Gold. Freshman East Bay product Kwame Vaughn ranks third on the team in scoring through 27 games at 10.2 per contest with 3.5 rebounds after a strong 17-point, nine-rebound night against Santa Clara (2/21/09). Junior Dontae Bryant adds 4.3 points and rates second on the team in assists at 2.9. Freshman guard Chris O'Brien has started 17 games for USF and adds strong defense to go along with 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest. The newcomer guard trio averages 18.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

DONS DOING IT WITH BALANCE: With 27 games in the books for the 2008-09 season, USF's offense is sharing the scoring load. Four Dons average better than 6.0 points per game, led by junior forward Dior Lowhorn (20.0). Freshman guard Kwame Vaughn (10.2), junior forward Blake Wallace (8.3) and freshman forward Angelo Caloiaro (6.1) lead the balanced USF assault.

DONS PROUD PARTICIPANTS IN THE JESUIT BASKETBALL SPOTLIGHT: USF is proud of its rich Jesuit heritage and the Dons West Coast Conference road contest at Loyola Marymount - features a Jesuit opponent. San Francisco is taking part in the Jesuit Spotlight Project this season, using Jesuit basketball to raise awareness of the outstanding education available at the nation's 28 Jesuit colleges and universities. For more information, log on to www.ajcunet.edu/jesuitbasketball.

USF INDUCTS THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HOOPS TEAMS INTO HOF: In one of the highlights of USF's 2009 Homecoming Week festivities, the University of San Francisco and the USF Athletic Department celebrated the 50th Anniversary Class of the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame. This year USF honored 12 legendary championship teams with induction. Three Dons national championship basketball teams - 1949 NIT and the 1955-56 NCAA title squads were inducted.

DONS POST WINNING HOME RECORD: After posting a satisfying 67-66 overtime victory against ancient Bay Area and WCC rival Santa Clara in the 2009 Homecoming Game, USF improved to 7-5 on its home floor. It is the best mark at War Memorial Gym for the Dons since posting the same mark in 2006-07.

DONS AND LIONS
- USF squares off against LMU for the 135th time in the all-time series dating to 1923-24.
- The Dons have won four of their last five vs. LMU and own a 16-5 record against the Lions since 2000.
- Dior Lowhorn scored 23 points with 14 rebounds and Angelo Caloiaro added 11 points in USF's 73-53 triumph (1/31/09).
- USF's 73-53 triumph was the program's 100th win vs. LMU
- USF won its first WCC Tournament game since 2004 with a 79-60 win against LMU in first round of the 2008 event.
- USF owns a 43-19 all-time slate vs. LMU in Los Angeles.
- Dons legend Jimmy Needles collected the first win in the series - a 32-8 triumph in 1924.

GAME #28, WCC GAME #13 - SCOUTING LOYOLA MARYMOUNT: The Lions enter the final week of West Coast Conference play with an 2-26 overall record and a 1-11 mark in league action. LMU enters its game with USF on a three-game losing streak and completed the regular season without a road victory, finishing 0-15. The Lions posted their first WCC triumph of the season with a 65-57 upset win against San Diego (2/12/09). Featuring one of the youngest starting lineups in the country, the Lions average 55.4 points on .349 shooting, including a .284 clip from beyond the arc, to go along with 32.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Vernon Teel keys LMU's offense, averaging 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Jared Dubois has started all 28 games for the Lions and chips in 13.4 points and 2.8 assists, while freshman forward Kevin Young adds 8.9 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. Coaching veteran Max Good is in his first season as the top Lion after taking over for Bill Bayno who resigned January 12. Good owns an overall record of 243-246 in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach.

TEAM COMPARISONS - 2008-09 SEASON - (As of 2/23/09):

Team	PPG	Margin	FG%	3-FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	TOPG	SPG	BPG
USF	67.3	-2.9	.433	.362	.693	31.6	12.4	13.6	5.7	2.3
LMU	55.4	-16.9	.349	.284	.697	32.5	9.6	15.4	6.1	1.8

LMU PROBABLE STARTERS (As of 2/23/09)
G. #00 Jared Dubois, 6-3, Fr. (13.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.8 apg)
G. #11 Vernon Teel, 6-4, So. (16.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.0 apg)
F. #12 Marko Deric, 6-9, Sr. (4.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.5 apg)
F. #24 LaRon Armstead, 6-5, Fr. (8.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.2 apg)
F. #40 Kevin Young, 6-8, Fr. (8.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.1 bpg)

LAST FOUR MEETINGS: at USF 73, LMU 53 (1/31/09); USF 79, LMU 60 - WCC Tournament First Round (3/7/08); at USF 88, LMU 79 (3/1/08); at LMU 72, USF 67 (2/4/08)

SERIES RECORD/STREAK: USF leads 100-34/USF won three

ON THE AIR/ON THE WEB:
Television Broadcast: None
Radio Broadcast: Green 960
Internet Audio: Yes - USFDons.com (Yahoo Broadcast)
GameTracker: Yes
Loyola Marymount Official Website: LMULions.com

BRONCO LEFTOVERS:
- USF's victory against Santa Clara was program win No. 1,200
- The overtime triumph was the Dons 96th victory in the series dating back to 1908
- San Francisco committed nine turnovers - its third straight game with less than 10 - and forced 18 Santa Clara miscues
- Kwame Vaughn went 8-for-9 at the free throw line, improving to .848 (39-46) during West Coast Conference play. Vaughn also ripped down a career-high nine rebounds in the contest.
- USF completed the home portion of the 2008-09 schedule with a 7-5 record at War Memorial Gym in the 50th anniversary of the facility
- The Dons improved to 2-0 in overtime contests this season after posting a double overtime triumph against Long Beach State (12/1/08)
- Dior Lowhorn finished the contest with 540 points on the season, good for 17th place on the single-season scoring list. Lowhorn scored 636 points (20.5 ppg) in 31 games last season for fourth place in the single-season annals.

UP NEXT FOR THE DONS: San Francisco closes the 2009 West Coast Conference regular season with a Saturday matinee in Malibu at Pepperdine. The Dons look to close the season strong in Southern California, but must do so against a young, surprising Waves squad that enters the final week with a 5-7 WCC slate. Game time against Pepperdine is set for 2:00 PM in Firestone Fieldhouse.

USF NEWCOMERS READY FOR BATTLE: USF under first year head coach Rex Walters welcome no fewer than six newcomers to the Hilltop for the 2008-09 season. A pair of junior college transfers - junior guard Dontae Bryant (Portland, OR) and junior forward Blake Wallace (Irvine, CA) - combine with four prep standouts - Angelo Caloiaro (San Jose, CA), Chris O'Brien (Irvine, CA), Peter Smith (Escondido, CA) and Kwame Vaughn (Oakland, CA).

Blake Wallace ON THE RISE: Junior forward Blake Wallace has made an impact for USF in his first season on the Hilltop. The Irvine Valley JC transfer ranks fourth on the team in scoring (8.3), third in rebounds (3.8) and is second with 32 3-pointers. Wallace, who started his career at Pepperdine in 2006-07, scored a career-high 21 points at Hawaii (11/14/08) in the Verizon Wireless Tip-off Classic. Wallace turned in his first USF double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in a double overtime win against Long Beach State (12/6/08). Wallace scored 12 points at Gonzaga (1/17/09) and scored 19 points with five 3-pointers against the No. 19 Zags (2/14/09).

Kwame Vaughn PROVIDING BIG SPARK FOR THE DONS: Freshman guard Kwame Vaughn has shown signs of developing into a clutch player for USF. The Oakland native ranks third on the team in scoring at 10.2 points per game, leading all USF newcomers. Vaughn scored 17 points against Texas State (11/16/08) and added 11 points in back-to-back wins versus UC Santa Barbara (11/24/08) and Colorado State (11/29/08). Vaughn turned in a strong performance in a win at Boise State (12/13/08) with 18 points. The East Bay product scored a career-high 22 points - 19 in the second half - at San Jose State (12/22/08). In WCC play, Vaughn averages 9.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game after an outstanding 17-point, nine rebound effort against Santa Clara (2/21/09).

Angelo Caloiaro PROVIDES A BIG LIFT: Freshman forward Angelo Caloiaro has made an impact for the Dons and through 27 games averages 6.1 points, ranks second on the team in rebounding with 4.0 boards and 1.4 assists per game. Caloiaro scored a career-high 15 points in a win against UC Santa Barbara (11/24/08) and 14 points with a career-high seven rebounds against Colorado State (11/29/08). The Mitty product has made 20 3-pointers, including a season-high three against Loyola Marymount (1/31/09).

Dontae Bryant DRIVES AND DISHES: Junior guard Dontae Bryant has done a solid job quarterbacking the USF offense in his first season in the Green and Gold. Bryant averages 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and leads the team with 3.0 assists. The Oregonian has dished out at least four assists in 11 games this season.

DONS NOTCH PROGRAM VICTORY NUMBER 1,200: San Francisco collected the 1,200th victory in program history in a thrilling 67-66 overtime win against ancient Bay Area rival Santa Clara (2/21/09).