MORAGA/SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Eager to remain in the win column, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (16-5, 6-2 WCC) returns to the hardwood for two more contests this week as the Dons will cross the Bay Bridge for a showdown at Saint Mary's (16-3, 6-0 WCC) on Thursday night before returning to the Hilltop on Saturday to host San Diego (4-16, 1-6 WCC) at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
GAME 22 DETAILS:
Date: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. PT
Opponent: Saint Mary's (16-3, 6-0 WCC)
Location: University Credit Union Pavilion / Moraga, Calif.
Watch: CBS Sports Network (Carter Blackburn, Pete Gillen)
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson, Jim Brovelli)
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
 
GAME 23 DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm p.m. PT
Opponent: San Diego (4-16, 1-6 WCC)
Location: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center / San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+ (Deuce Mason, Ben Braun)
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson, Jim Brovelli)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• Getting back on track last week, San Francisco picked up its first weekly sweep of WCC play this season as the Dons recorded back-to-back victories against Pepperdine (80-63) last Thursday, Jan. 16 and Oregon State (81-70) last Saturday, Jan. 18. Notably, USF's backcourt shined in both wins as Malik Thomas averaged 22.0 points on 59.1 percent shooting while Marcus Williams averaged 18.5 points on 62.5 percent shooting last week. Overall, Thomas is currently tied for twelfth in the nation in scoring as the Fontana native is averaging 20.4 points per game on the year.
• Last time out, Tyrone Riley IV had his best game of conference play as the freshman scored 15 points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting from downtown against Oregon State. As a unit, San Francisco shot a season-best 59.1 percent (13-for-22) from three-point range in Saturday's win over the Beavers.
• San Francisco shot above 50.0 percent from the field in both of its wins last week, improving to 10-0 on the season and 5-0 in WCC action when shooting at least 50.0 percent from the floor this year.
• Following an eventful week of WCC action, the Dons now hold sole possession of second place in the conference behind Saint Mary's. The Dons and the Gaels are tied for the most conference wins (six) and the most wins overall this season (16).
• This week presents a chance for the green and gold to climb up the NCAA's NET Rankings as USF remains as the fifth-highest ranked WCC team (70) behind Gonzaga (19), Saint Mary's (28), Oregon State (59) and Santa Clara (64).
• Thursday night's contest against Saint Mary's poses another opportunity for the Dons to capture their first Quad 1 win of the season.

SCOUTING THE GAELS:

• Coming off its first outright WCC regular season championship since 2011-12, Saint Mary's currently sits at first place in the conference as the only undefeated team (6-0) in WCC action. The Gaels have won each of their first six conference games by an average of 26.5 points, most recently earning the season sweep over Pepperdine with a 74-50 victory in Malibu last Saturday, Jan. 18.
• Saint Mary's has yet to play a conference game against an opponent ranking in the top 75 in the NET as the Dons are poised to be SMC's biggest test in WCC action yet.
• Reigning WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis has led Saint Mary's this season with 14.2 points per game on the year, shooting 45.5 percent from three in conference play.
• In conference action, five Gaels are averaging double-digit scoring in Marciulionis (13.3), Luke Barrett (12.7), Jordan Ross (10.3), Mitchell Saxen (10.7) and Mikey Lewis (10.5). So far, Lewis has established himself as one of the conference's best freshmen, earning a league-high three WCC Freshman of the Week honors.
• Defense has been key to Saint Mary's success in WCC contests as the Gaels lead the league in opponent points per game (53.5), scoring margin (26.5), opponent field goal percentage (37.9), rebounds per game (44.0), blocks per game (4.33) and turnover margin (5.17) heading into the week. 

SCOUTING THE TOREROS:

• After winning its first game of WCC play (12/30 vs. Pacific), San Diego has lost six consecutive games as the Toreros enter the week in a tie for last place in the conference. Last week, USD suffered two close defeats in a 65-61 loss against Washington State on Thursday, Jan. 16 and a 77-70 loss at LMU last Saturday, Jan. 18.
• Recently, a bright spot for the Toreros has been Tony Duckett, who earned WCC Freshman of the Week honors on Monday after scoring a USD freshman single-game record 31 points on Saturday against the Lions. Duckett's honor marked the first WCC Player of the Week award for San Diego this season.
• Kjay Bradley Jr. has led San Diego in scoring this season as the junior is averaging 14.5 points per game in a sixth man role off the bench. Impressively, he has achieved this while not starting in a conference game this season.
• Before coming to the Bay on Saturday, the Toreros will first head to Portland to face the Pilots on Thursday night.

SERIES HISTORY:

• San Francisco and Saint Mary's will meet for the 192^nd time on Thursday night as the Dons hold a 101-90 advantage in the all-time series. The green and gold look to snap a ten game losing streak against the Gaels as the Dons are seeking their first victory in Moraga since Feb. 8, 2003.
• San Francisco and San Diego will meet for the 94^th time on Saturday night as the Dons hold a 52-41 advantage in the all-time series. Notably, the Dons have won eight of their last nine contests against the Toreros, with USD's lone win in the last five seasons over the green and gold coming on Dec. 31, 2022 in San Francisco (80-68).

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 US:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor - Twenty Five Ventures - for their continued support of San Francisco 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.