SAN DIEGO/SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - After a thrilling overtime victory to open West Coast Conference play last week, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (12-4, 1-0 WCC) will head south to face San Diego (10-7, 0-2 WCC) on Thursday evening before returning to the Hilltop to take on Portland (7-9, 1-0 WCC) on Saturday night at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

GAME 17 INFORMATION:
Date: Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: San Diego (10-7, 0-2 WCC)
Site: Jenny Craig Pavilion
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: KNBR 1050
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
 
GAME 18 INFORMATION:
Date: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: Portland (7-9, 1-0 WCC)
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: KNBR 1050
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here

DONS AT A GLANCE:

• Last time out, San Francisco opened conference play with a 92-88 overtime win at Pacific on Thursday, Jan. 4. Down by five with one minute left in regulation, Jonathan Mogbo put the team on his back in the final 60 seconds, converting on a three-point play and tipping in a missed layup on USF's final two possessions to send the game into overtime. In OT, the Dons outscored the Tigers 14-10 to claim victory in Stockton. 
• Putting together arguably his best performance as a Don, Mogbo was named WCC Player of the Week on Monday, Jan. 8 as the forward played a career-high 39 minutes while finishing with a career-high 30 points to go along with 18 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block against Pacific. Additionally, he went 10-for-10 at the free throw line, four of which came in the overtime period. Overall, this performance also marked his seventh double-double of the season. Notably, he was also one of five players to earn USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week honors this week.
• After shooting 10-of-13 from the floor against the Tigers, Mogbo has moved into second in the nation in field goal percentage, now at 67.6 percent from the field as he trails only Florida Atlantic's Vladislav Goldin (71.7). Additionally, Mogbo now has the eighth-highest rebounds per game average (10.6) across Division I, following his performance in Stockton. Notably, this 18-rebound performance is the second time Mogbo reached this mark this season, which also ties his own record as the highest rebound total by a WCC player this year. 
• Alongside Mogbo, Malik Thomas had his second 20-plus point game of the season against the Tigers with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting in his fourth consecutive start. Across his four starts, Thomas is averaging 18.8 points per game, shooting 61.9 percent from the field, 55.0 percent from three and 92.3 percent from the foul line.
• Overall, San Francisco's 17.1 margin of victory is good for twelfth in the country. As a unit, the Dons are second in the WCC in scoring offense at 78.1 points per game, trailing only No. 21/23 Gonzaga (84.9 ppg).

SCOUTING THE TOREROS:

• After compiling the WCC's third-best nonconference record at 10-5, San Diego dropped its first two games to open conference play. The Toreros were handed their second home defeat of the season last Thursday evening in an 81-70 loss to Saint Mary's on Thursday, Jan. 4 before heading to Spokane on Saturday, Jan. 6, where they fell at No. 24 Gonzaga in a 101-74 contest.
• Individually, Deuce Turner has opened conference play on a mission as the junior guard is averaging 29.0 points per game, shooting 57.6 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three in USD's first two WCC games. Notably, he also ranks second in the WCC in three-pointers per game (2.19) and total three-point field goals made (35). Additionally, Kevin Patton Jr. comes into the contest leading the WCC with 1.47 blocks per game while Wayne McKinney III is second in steals per game with an average of 1.62.
• Heading into Thursday night, the Toreros hold the WCC's third-best home record at 9-2, behind USF (8-0) and Gonzaga (8-1). Overall, San Diego is also first in the conference in bench points per game (28.88), second in blocks per game (4.1), second in free throw percentage (73.0), second in turnovers forced per game (13.41) and third in free throws made per game (13.7) and steals per game (7.3).

SCOUTING THE PILOTS:

• Similar to San Francisco, Portland opened conference play with a victory over Pacific on Saturday, Jan. 6 in a 78-64 win at home. Five players recorded double-figure scoring in the win for UP, with senior forward Tyler Robertson leading the way with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
• In the conference, Robertson ranks in the top five in points per game (16.5, second), assists per game (4.1, fourth), field goal percentage (50.3, fifth) and minutes per game (35.3, first). Robertson is also the only player in the WCC to have scored in double figures in every game this season.
• On Monday, Pilots guard and Bay Area native Tyler Harris was awarded WCC Freshman of the Week honors for the third time in the 2023-24 campaign. In the opening week of conference play, the Granada High School alum recorded 16 points and 9 rebounds in 36 minutes of action against Pacific. Among freshmen, Harris ranks third across Division I in rebounds per game (7.8) and fourth in minutes per game (34.1).
• Before coming to the Hilltop on Saturday, Portland will begin their Bay Area swing by heading to Moraga on Thursday evening for a contest against Saint Mary's.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Thursday will mark the 92^nd meeting all-time between San Francisco and San Diego as the Dons currently hold the advantage in the all-time series, 50-41. The two teams split the season series last year, with USF taking the last matchup in a 94-81 victory on Jan. 28, 2023 in San Diego.
• Saturday will mark the 98^th meeting all-time between San Francisco and Portland as the Dons currently lead the all-time series, 67-30. Last season, the home team won each contest, with the last meeting resulting in a close 92-89 victory for San Francisco on Feb. 23, 2023 at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor - Corona - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.