SAN DIEGO – The Dons trailed by as much as 17 at one point, but battled hard in the second half, twice cutting the deficit to less than eight.  Ultimately free throws and a strong showing from beyond the 3-point line helped seal the win for host San Diego, 73-63.
 
USF (8-6, 0-1 WCC) struggled to find their rhythm on offense in the first half.  The Dons shot 34.1 percent from the field in the opening period.  In the second period things didn't start much better, the Dons opened the contest 0-for-11 from beyond the arc.
 
Chase Foster hit a 3-point field goal at the top of the key and strong defense from Jamaree Bouyea allowed the Dons to go on an 11-0 run late in the second half.  With 1:13 in the contest, Souley Boum hit a 3-point field goal in the far corner to cut the deficit to seven, 70-63, forcing USD to call a timeout.  Out of the break the Toreros got the stops it needed and added a trio of free throws to put the contest on ice.
 
Boum led the Dons with 21, he scored 16 after the intermission.  Joining Boum in double figures was Chase Foster with 14 and Renfro with 10.
 
San Diego (10-3, 1-0 WCC) had three players in double figures and was led by Isiah Pineiro's game-high 23 points.  The Toreros shot 45.8 percent from the field and was 8-for-18 from 3-point range.
 
NOTES

• Souley Boum was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line tonight, he now has 69 made free throws this season, which is sixth all-time.  Boum is three-shy of tying legendary Don, Bill Cartwright, for fifth with 72.
• The Dons bench continues to excel, USF's reserves outscored the Toreros 34-8, 24 coming from the combo of Foster and Renfro who were superb coming off the bench.
• Since he broke his nose in the final play against Radford, Renfro has scored 24 points, including back-to-back 10 point performances.
• The Dons committed just eight turnovers on the evening, it's the fourth time this season that they have turned the ball over less than 10 times.
• For the season, USF is plus-31 in the first half, but minus-6 in scoring in the second half.  Tonight however, the Dons were minus-9 in the first half and plus-1 in the second. 

NEXT UP
The Dons head north to Portland, Ore., to take on the Pilots on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.  Saturday's contest will be televised on Root NW and SPEC SN, check local listings for channel availability, it will also be streamed on TheW.tv.