Riding a three-game winning streak, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team hits the road on Thursday evening.  The Dons (14-6/3-2 WCC) will make the short trip across the Bay Bridge to Moraga to take on Saint Mary's (16-4/3-2 WCC) in a crucial WCC showdown. Thursday's contest is slated for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off and will be televised coast-to-coast on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz and Ryan Hollis on the call.  Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will have the Dons broadcast on KNBR 1050-AM.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Jan. 23, 2020 – 7:30 p.m.
Opponent: Saint Mary's Gaels (16-4/3-2 WCC)
Site: University Credit Union Pavilion (3,500)
TV:  CBS Sports Network
Talent: Rich Waltz (play-by-play) and Ryan Hollins (analyst)
Radio:  KNBR 1050-AM
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: SMCGaels.com
 
USF AT A GLANCE
• USF is 14-6 on the year and 3-2 in the WCC. After starting WCC play 0-2 the Dons bounced back to win three-straight, beating Santa Clara (81-61) and Pacific (79-74), who were previously unbeaten in WCC play. They continued the stretch with a 61-53 win over LMU last Saturday.
• Last time out: For the first time all season, the Dons came away with the win after trailing at the half. LMU led the Dons 28-26 at the intermission, but USF outscored the Lions 35-25 in the second half.  Charles Minlend led all scorers with 19 and the Dons shot 47.7 from the field in the win - their 13th win when shooting .400 or better.
• Win #1400: With the win over the Lions - USF earned its 1400th win as a program - the Dons are 1400-1017 (.579) - they are the 94th team in NCAA history to win 1400 or more.
• Jurkatamm-ania: Taavi Jurkatamm had a career-game against the Lions - recording a career-high eight rebounds and a season-high three blocks - the Dons are 8-2 when Taavi plays - he did not play against the Gaels in their previous matchup on Jan. 2.
• The NET:  In the latest update to the NCAA Evaluation Tool the Dons continue to climb. As Jan. 22 they are ranked 99th and are one of five WCC teams in the top-100.  Saint Mary's is third in the WCC at No. 41.
• Road Numbers:  On the road this year, the Dons are 4-3 - they are averaging 73.3 ppg and are shooting 45.5 percent from the field away from home.  Their opponents are averaging 71.1 ppg and shooting 48.0 percent from the field.
• Scoring Abundance:  USF is 29th in the nation in scoring average at 78.8 - they are 75th in scoring margin at +8.3.
• From the Field:  USF is shooting .454 percent from the field - they have six games this season where they have shot .500 or better. USF is 13-3 when shooting .400 or better, the three losses came at Hawaii, Harvard, and Portland.
• 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 had a 3.5 or higher, and 2 individuals came away with a 4.0.
• 1,000 Point Duo:  Jordan Ratinho (1,160) and Charles Minlend (1,088) give the Dons their first 1,000 point duo since Manny Quezada and Dior Lowhorn both eclipsed the millennium mark in 2009. Ratinho's point total ranks 24th in program history and Minlend's is 27th all-time.
• Kunen Back In the Lineup:  After starting the first 12 games of the season Josh Kunen was replaced in the starting lineup against UC Davis - during that stretch the Dons went 2-3, prompting his return to the starting five.  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 12-3 with Kunen as a starter.
• Ratinho For THREE:  Senior Jordan Ratinho took sole possession of the career 3-point record in USF history last Saturday with his 237th 3-point field goal.  He breaks a record held by Ali Thomas (1997-00).  Ratinho is 24th in the nation among active players.  He trails NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash by 26 for 12th all-time in WCC history.  With 107 3-point field goals in WCC play, he trails SMC's Matthew Dellavedova by 16 for 10th most in WCC season history.
• Historically Rare Company: The #GoldenEra is off to a fantastic start this fall. First Year head coach Todd Golden's 7-0 start matched William Bussenius, who won his first seven games in 1945-46 - his only season as head coach - most of those wins came against local military opponents following World War II.  
• Through 20 games - Golden is off to the third best start in USF history dating back to 1945 - at 14-6, Golden trails only Dan Belluomini (16-4) and Pete Barry (15-5). Both Belluomini and Barry guided the Dons to the post season on those years.
• Of the 61 first year head coaches in the NCAA - Golden is tied for third-best with a .700 winning percentage - at 14-6 Golden is tied with Mark Pope (BYU), Darrin Horn (Northern Kentucky), and Dan Fischer (William & Mary).  They trail Arkansas' Eric Musselman (.824 - 14-3) and Belmont's Casey Alexander (.737 - 14-5).

WATCH PARTY
We have an update to our road game watch parties with our partners at KNBR. Tomorrow's game in Moraga will be hosted by KNBR at The Chieftain Irish Pub (198 5^th Street in San Francisco). Tip-off is at 7:30 PM and we invite you to join our broadcast partners for drink specials, ticket giveaways, and more. Further watch parties will be held on January 30, February 13, February 20, and February 29 at Public House next to Oracle Park in China Basin.
 
VS. SAINT MARY'S
Series
Thursday's meeting between the Dons and Gaels will be the 184th in a series that dates back to the 1931 season.  All-time, USF owns a 101-82 advantage in the series - however, since the 2000 the Dons are just 9-31 against their cross bay rivals.  On the road, the Dons are 34-34 since 1946.  Last year, the Dons went into the locker room trailing by 17 but cut the deficit to six with the Gaels defeating the Dons 86-80.  Last time these two teams met came on Jan. 2 with SMC defeating the Dons at home 69-58.
 
About the Gaels
Head coach Randy Bennett just earned his 200th career win in the WCC. The Gaels, who are receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll, are 16-4 overall - they are one of five teams in the WCC with a 3-2 conference record.  At University Credit Union Pavilion, they are 9-2 this season.  Last time out, the Gaels defeated Pepperdine on the road 78-69.  As a team, they are averaging 77.9 points per game and are shooting 48.1 percent from the field.  Three players are averaging better than 10 points per contest led by Jordan Ford's conference leading 22.4 points per game.  Malik Fitts is averaging 16.0 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per contest.  Tommy Kuhse is averaging 6.6 points per game - but over the last two match-ups against the Dons he is averaging 16 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and three assists.
 
Last Time Out Versus Saint Mary's
The shorthanded Dons - who were without Taavi Jurkatamm - started hot against the Gaels, going up by seven early in the contest.  From there, SMC slowly took control thanks to a strong first half from Malik Fitts, who scored 17 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.  He finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds.  In the second half Josh Kunen held him to four points and three rebounds.  However, the trio of Fitts, Jordan Ford (16 points) and Tommy Kuhse (15 points) was too much for the Dons to overcome.  The Gaels left the Hilltop with a 1-0 record in the WCC and a 69-58 win in the first match-up between Golden and Bennett.
 
UP NEXT
The Dons will return home and will be back on national TV when USF hosts BYU on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.  The Dons and Cougars will be televised on Stadium Sports Network.  Limited tickets are available and can be purchased online at USFDons.com/MBBTix.    
 

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Please mark your calendars for the Hall of Fame Dinner on February 21^st at 6:30 PM in the McClaren Conference Center on USF's campus. We will honor our Dons of the Year, Kevin and Susan Hanley, as well as our inductees that include Dior Lowhorn (men's basketball, 2010), Joy Boyenga (women's basketball, 1992), and Kyle Zimmer (baseball, 2012). Tickets are available now at usfdons.com/halloffame.