The University of San Francisco men's basketball team looks to get back into the win column on Thursday evening, to do that they need to get by host Pacific at Alex G. Spanos Center.  The Dons and Tigers are set to tip off at 6:00 p.m. on a game that will be televised on NBCS Bay Area with Glen Kuiper and Ben Braun handling the play-by-play duties.  As always, Pat Olson and the Hall of Famer Jim Brovelli, will have the call on the home USF Dons basketball, 1550-AM The GAME.
 

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Jan. 17, 2019 – 6:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: Pacific Tigers (11-8, 1-3 WCC)
Site: Alex G. Spanos Center (Stockton, Calif.)
Television: NBCS Bay Area
Talent: Glen Kuiper (play-by-play), Ben Braun (analyst)
Radio:  1550-AM The GAME
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: USFDons.com
Game Notes: USF at Pacific
 
USF AT A GLANCE

• At 14-3, USF is off to their best start through 17 games since the 1981-82 season when the Dons opened the year 15-2.  USF has started the season 14-3 or better 10 times, with the previous nine teams all advancing to the post season.
• On the road, the Dons are 3-1.  They are averaging 74.5 points per contest, and shooting 46.4 percent from the field.  USF is holding their opponents to 61.0 points per game and 37.6 percent from the field when away from War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.  
• Following a loss, USF is 2-0 this season. The Dons are averaging 77.6 points per game and holding opponents to 66.0 points per contest for a +11.5 scoring margin.
• Frankie Ferrari loves playing against Pacific.  In three games last year, Ferrari averaged 16.6 points per game and nine assists per game.  At Alex G. Spanos Center last season he tallied his first career double-double with 15 points and 13 assists.
• In the latest NET rankings, the Dons fell to 40th from 37th.  The Dons are one of two WCC teams in the top-40 of the all-important NET.  USF ranks ahead of 11 of 12 Pac-12 teams.  Washington is the lone Pac-12 team that ranks ahead of the Dons at No. 38.
• USF improved to 12-3 when scoring at least 70 points this season. Under Kyle Smith, the Dons are 45-13 when they score at least 70 points.
• In the latest Mid-Major Poll, USF checks in at ninth, falling two spots from the previous week.  The WCC has two-teams in the top-10 of the Mid-Major poll with Gonzaga taking the top spot.

 
THE SERIES
Though Pacific hasn't been in the West Coast Conference for long, this rivalry is one of the oldest for the Dons.  Thursday's contest between the Dons and Tigers is the 106th all-time with USF owning a 71-34 advantage in the series that dates back all the way to 1911. On the road the Dons are 18-18 against the Tigers, and have won four of their last five at Alex G. Spanos Arena. Overall, USF has won nine of the last 10 against the Tigers, including all three contests last season.  Last time out, USF outlasted Pacific 71-70 in overtime at the WCC Championships on Mar. 3, 2018.
 
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Pacific enters Thursday night's contest with an 11-8 overall record, in the West Coast conference they are 1-3.  On Saturday they came away with a 65-57 win over Portland in the Rose City to snap a three-game skid to start WCC play.  The Tigers are averaging 72.8 points per game this season and shooting 44.1 percent from the field.  Leading the team in scoring is senior guard Roberto Gallinat who is averaging 14.7 points per contest.  Last season at home against the Dons he scored 41 in a losing effort.
 
LAST GAME AGAINST PACIFIC
For the third and final time last season, the Dons and Tigers squared off in the quarterfinal of the West Coast Conference Championships at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.  Pacific went into the locker room nursing a 37-33 advantage but the Dons defense stymied the Tigers offensive efforts in them second half, holding to 28.6 percent from the field and 27 points.  Jordan Ratinho tied his career-high with 20 points in the contest, he hit a triple in overtime to get the Dons offense going.  He finished the game 5-for-10 beyond the arc.  Frankie Ferrari continued to hound the Tigers as he had in the regular season, he finished with 17 points and eight assists.
 
UP NEXT
USF will return home on Saturday when they take on BYU.  The Dons and Cougars will tangle on NBCS Bay Area at 8:00 p.m. Tickets for Saturday's contest are limited and the game is expected to be a sellout.  Saturday's game will also be North Beach Night, seven San Francisco Italian restaurants will showcase their talents in an effort to raise awareness for The North Beach Citizens Group.