The University of San Francisco men's basketball is back home on the Hilltop hosting one of its oldest rivals on Saturday.  The Dons (13-6/2-2 WCC) squares off against Loyola Marymount (7-11/1-3 WCC) for the 160^th time at 1:00 p.m.  The contest will be televised on NBC Sports California with Jim Kozimor and Dan Belluomini handling play-by-play duties. Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli are back on KNBR 1050-AM this week and will call all the action live courtside.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Jan. 18, 2020 – 1:00 p.m.
Opponent: Loyola Marymount Lions (7-11/1-3 WCC)
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
TV:  NBC Sports California
Steam: The WCC Network (out of markets only)
Talent: Jim Kozimor (play-by-play) and Dan Belluomini (analyst)
Radio:  KNBR 1050-AM
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast.com
 
USF AT A GLANCE
• USF is 13-6 on the year and 2-2 in the WCC.  After starting 7-0 the Dons are 6-6.  After starting WCC play 0-2 the Dons bounced back with a 2-0 week beating Santa Clara (81-61) and Pacific (79-74) who were previously unbeaten in WCC play.
• Last time out: The Dons led by as much as 21 and held on to win 79-75 on the road at Pacific.  The Tigers entered the contest with a 10-1 home record before the Dons earned the win.  Charles Minlend finished with 19 to cap off a strong week.  The Dons shot 50.9 percent from the field - their sixth game of the year shooting 50.0 or better.
• Minlend Earns WCC Player of the Week:  Last week, Charles Minlend was on a tear for the Dons - in the 2-0 week, he averaged 22.0 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 52.2 percent from the field.  Against Santa Clara he finished with a career-high 25 points. It is the first Player of the Week honors for Minlend.
• Opening up WCC Play:  The Dons are 2-2 in WCC play after going 2-0 last week – at 2-2 they are tied with Saint Mary's, Santa Clara, and Pepperdine in the WCC standings.
• The NET:  In the latest update to the NCAA Evaluation Tool the Dons continue to climb. As of Jan. 17 they are ranked 97th they are one of five WCC teams in the top-100. 
• Scoring Abundance:  USF is 26th in the nation in scoring average at 79.7 - they are 82nd in scoring margin at +8.3.
• 1000 Point Duo:  Jordan Ratinho (1,152) and Charles Minlend (1,069) give the Dons their first 1,000 point duo since Manny Quezada and Dior Lowhorn did it in 2009. Ratinho ranks 24th all-time and Minlend is 30th all-time - he just surpassed Frankie Ferrari.
• Kunen Back In the Lineup:  After starting the first 12 games of the season Josh Kunen was replaced in the starting lineup - during that stretch the Dons went 2-3 and has returned to the starting lineup.  Over the last two games he is averaging 11.5 points per game while shooting 76.9 percent from the field (10-for-13) and averaging 10.0 rebounds per game. The Dons are 11-3 with Kunen as a starter.
• Excel in the Classroom: As a team, the Dons boasted a team GPA of 3.24 - 10 players posted a GPA of 3.0 or higher, 7 with a 3.5 or higher and 2 with a 4.0.
• Ratinho Heating Up:  Over the last six games, senior guard Jordan Ratinho is starting to catch fire - he is averaging 10.2 points per game and shooting 39.6 percent from the field - he has finished in double figures in five of those six contests.
• More on Rat:  With his next 3-point field goal, Jordan Ratinho will take sole possession of the career 3-point record in USF history.  Ratinho tied the record with his 305th career attempt 37 fewer than record holder Ali Thomas.  Ratinho's 236 career 3-point field goals ranks 24th among active players in the NCAA.
• Through 19 games - Golden is off to the third best start in USF history dating back to 1945 - at 13-6 he trails only Dan Belluomini (15-4) and Pete Barry (15-4). Both Belluomini and Barry guided the Dons to the post season on those years.
 
 
VS. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

Series History
The Dons and Lions is one of USF's oldest rivals, dating back to 1924 when the Dons were known as The Grey Fog and the University was called St. Ignatius. Saturday's contest marks the 160th time the two teams have squared off with the Dons owning a 113-46 advantage in the series according to LMU.  At home, the Dons are 54-19 all-time against the Lions.  The series is also known for trading points - of the 81 times the Dons have scored 100 points in a game, they have done it 15 times against LMU. On Feb. 4, 1990 the two sides combined to score 272 points - the most combined points scored in a game in USF history.  The 157 points USF surrendered that day are the most they have allowed in program history - however, the eight points allowed by the Dons in the first ever match up are also the fewest.  Last season, the Lions defeated the USF at home 74-69 on Mar. 2 - it was their only match-up of the season.
 
About the Lions
The Lions enter Saturday's contest with a 7-11 overall record and in conference play are 1-3.  Their lone WCC win came in the opener at home against San Diego.  LMU has lost four of its last five and six of its last 10 and is currently mired in a three-game losing streak that began on Jan. 4 at BYU.  On Thursday, the Lions fell to Pepperdine in Malibu, 75-67, in the first match up of the "PCH Cup." As a team, LMU is averaging 66.5 points per game and allowing 67.2.  They are shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from 3-point range.  Two players are averaging double figures, leading the team is Eli Scott at 15.9 points per game.  Scot is also shooting a team-best 55.2 percent from the field. 
 
Last Time Out Versus Loyola Marymount
Last time out, the Lions played spoiler on senior night - defeating the Dons 74-69.  USF had four players in double figures led by Frankie Ferrari and Jimbo Lull's team-high 13.  Dzmitry Ryuny scored 12 and was red-hot from long range in the second half.  Ultimately, the Dons could not overcome a sluggish start.  LMU held on for the win thanks to the play from Eli Scott (15) and James Batemon (19).
 
UP NEXT
The Dons head back on the road but will stay in their bay when they travel across the Bay Bridge to take on the Gaels next Thursday at University Credit Union Pavilion.  The game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff and will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.