SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Continuing their home stand following a win over San Diego, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (14-2, 1-0) will welcome Loyola Marymount (7-5, 0-0) and Brigham Young (14-3, 2-0) to the Hilltop this weekend as the Dons enter their second week of West Coast Conference play.
 
GAME 17 INFORMATION:
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 13, 2021 – 8:00 p.m. PT
Opponent: Loyola Marymount (7-5, 0-0 WCC) 
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center (San Francisco, Calif.)
Watch: CBS Sports Network 
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson + Jim Brovelli)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast 
Tickets: Purchase Here 
Updated COVID-19 Protocol: Click Here 
 
GAME 18 INFORMATION:
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 15, 2021 – 8:00 p.m. PT
Opponent: Brigham Young (14-3, 2-0 WCC) 
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center (San Francisco, Calif.)
Watch: CBS Sports Network 
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson + Jim Brovelli)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast 
Tickets: Purchase Here 
Updated COVID-19 Protocol: Click Here 
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• In their last time on the hardwood, USF downed San Diego, 88-73, at home on Saturday, Jan. 8 to begin conference play for the second year in a row. Dominating most of the ballgame, the Dons were led on both ends by the duo of Khalil Shabazz and Yauhen Massalski. Overall, Shabazz finished with a new season-high with 27 points (11-17, 3-5 3PT, 2-2 FT) while also adding six rebounds, three steals and two assists while Massalski dazzled with his fourth double-double of the season as he tallied 21 points (9-13 FG) and a season-high 17 rebounds. As a team, San Francisco shot exactly 50.0 percent from the field, marking the fourth straight game and seventh time this season in which USF has accomplished this feat.
• Displaying his all-around talent, Massalski was named WCC Player of the Week on Tuesday, Jan. 11 after finishing with averages of 20.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.0 assists per game across USF's two game slate last week. Notably, Massalski currently leads the WCC in field goal percentage (63.7), offensive rebounds (55) and total rebounds (132) while also ranking second in blocks (35), made field goals (100) and rebounds per game (8.3). 
• Through nine weeks of play, USF now has the most conference players of the week (3) as Masslaski joins Jamaree Bouyea, who earned the honor in back-to-back weeks on Dec. 6 and 13, on the award list.
• As of Wednesday evening, USF is one of five teams to record a conference win through the first week of WCC action (BYU, Gonzaga, San Diego, Santa Clara). Overall, the Dons currently rank seventeenth in the nation in total three-point field goals made (158), twentieth in three-point field goal defense (28.1), twenty-fourth in field goal percentage (48.5) and twenty-fifth in three-point field goals per game (9.9).

SCOUTING THE LIONS:

• Not playing since Dec. 21 at Bellarmine, Loyola Marymount has had their previous three games postponed due to COVID-19 related protocols. In their last time on the floor, the Lions defeated Bellarmine on the road, 71-57, behind the strength of 28 points from Joe Quintana and a double-double (13 pts, 11 reb) from Keli Leaupepe. 
• Moving forward, LMU is set to play five conference games in the next ten calendar days as they attempt to manuever a full schedule following postponements and cancellations.
• Earning a spot on the All-WCC First Team last season, the Dons will be tasked with stopping forward Eli Scott, who averaged 20.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in three games against USF in 2020-21.
• This year, Quintana has turned into one of the most lethal sharpshooters in the conference as the guard currently sits third in the country and first in the WCC in free throw percentage (95.1). Impressively, Quintana also ranks second in the WCC in three-point field goals made (40), fifth in three-point field goal percentage (45.5) and seventh in scoring (15.1 ppg). 

SCOUTING THE COUGARS:

• Opening conference play with consecutive wins at home, BYU improved to 2-0 in WCC play for the first time since 2016-17 with a 52-43 win over Saint Mary's in their last time on the court on Saturday, Jan. 8 . Notably, the victory marked the Cougars third straight win over the Gaels as they tied USF with a conference-leading 14^th win.
• Alongside Masslaski, Fousseyni Traore was named the WCC Freshman of the Week for the second this season after averaging 10.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in the opening week of conference play. Since being inserted to the starting lineup against Liberty on Dec. 25, the 6'6" forward has logged a pair of double-doubles for BYU.
• Receiving two votes in this week's AP Poll like USF, the Cougars will battle No. 2 Gonzaga in Spokane on Thursday, Jan. 13 on ESPN2 before making the trip to the Hilltop.
• Through 76 games at the helm of BYU, third year head coach Mark Pope continues to enjoy success as he holds a 58-18 (.763) record at the school coming into the week. Overall, the Cougars are 25-6 in WCC games under Pope, including an appearance in the 2021 WCC Championship game and a berth into the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Thursday's matchup will mark the 152^nd meeting all-time between LMU and USF as the Dons currently hold a 103-48 advantage in the series. Overall, the Dons and Lions have squared off for the second-most games in program history as San Francisco has only faced one other opponent more throughout their existence- Santa Clara (162). In 2019-20, USF swept the season series from LMU, which included a 29-point win in the WCC Tournament, but the Lions responded last year by sweeping all three games from the Dons, which included a revenge victory in the conference tournament on Mar. 5, 2021.
• Saturday's matchup will mark the 31^st meeting all-time between BYU and USF as the Cougars currently hold a 21-9 advantage in the series. Going back-and-forth in streaks, BYU rallied off eleven consecutive wins over the Dons from Jan. 2014 to Feb. 2018 before USF answered by notching three straight victories, including a season sweep in 2018-19. However, BYU has defeated San Francisco in their previous three contests, including a 79-73 win in Provo in their last showdown on Feb. 25, 2021.

TRACK THE ACTION:
Thursday's contest will air live on CBS Sports Network and on KNBR 1050 at 8:00 pm PT. Chris Lewis and Dan Dickau will have the call live on CBSSN while Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will air on KNBR 1050 from the Hilltop. Live streaming, live audio and live statistics are available above and via the team's schedule page.
 
Saturday's contest will air live on CBS Sports Network and on KNBR 1050 at 8:00 pm PT. Broadcast details for CBSSN are to be determined while Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will air on KNBR 1050 from the Hilltop. Live streaming, live audio and live statistics are available above and via the team's schedule page.
 
TICKETS AND MERCHANDISE:
Single-game tickets for West Coast Conference basketball games are currently on sale at www.usfdons.com/tickets. 

Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at www.usfdons.com/shop.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.