San Francisco Returns to Hilltop to Host San Diego

Friday, January 2

San Francisco, Calif.

7:00 PM

University of San Francisco

San Diego

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MBB Team Huddle vs. Morgan State December 2025

Photo by: Christina Leung

1/1/2026 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - The University of San Francisco (USF) men's basketball team (9-6, 1-1 WCC) is back on the Hilltop for its first conference home game this season as the Dons are set to welcome San Diego (6-8, 1-1 WCC) to War Memorial at the Sobrato Center for a Friday night showdown.

GAME 16 DETAILS:
Opponent: San Diego (6-8, 1-1 WCC)
Date: Friday, Jan. 2, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center/San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+ (Barry Tompkins, Dan Belluomini)
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson, Jim Brovelli)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here

DONS AT A GLANCE:

Following a road win at Seattle U to open West Coast Conference (WCC) play, San Francisco fell on the road at Oregon State, 70-62, on Tuesday night at Gill Coliseum. Despite the loss, David Fuchs (19 points), Ryan Beasley (13 points), and Tyrone Riley IV (12 points) each logged double figures for the Dons.
Sharp from distance, San Francisco is currently third in the conference in total three-pointers made (136) while also ranking fourth in three pointers made per game (9.1).
Through 15 games this season, USF has found success in limiting turnovers, as the Dons have the second-lowest turnover total (169) in the conference behind only No. 7/7 Gonzaga (157). USF's 11.3 turnovers per game is also the second-lowest in the WCC. Additionally, San Francisco is tied for third in the conference in assist to turnover ratio (1.29), while also being tied with San Diego for the fifth-most assists (218) as a team.
The Dons tend to have good fortune following a loss under Chris Gerlufsen as USF is 26-12 coming off of a loss under the fourth-year head coach. So far this season, San Francisco is 2-2 after a defeat.

SCOUTING THE TOREROS:

San Diego turned some heads in its last time on the hardwood, as the Toreros narrowly fell to No. 7/7 Gonzaga, 99-93, on Tuesday evening at Jenny Craig Pavilion. USD put up a valliant effort against the Bulldogs, with five Toreros finishing in double figures: Ty-Laur Johnson (21 points), Juanse Gorosito (16 points), D'Arrae Goodwin (15 points), Adrian McIntyre (12 points), and Toneari Lane (10 points).
Similar to San Francisco, San Diego has been lethal from beyond the arc so far this season, as the Toreros come into the matchup averaging 9.4 three pointers per game, good for third in the WCC and tied for 75^th nationally. USD has also found consistency in the turnover battles, with the Toreros currently holding a turnover margin of 2.07 as of Thursday evening.
Individually, Johnson (14.2 points per game), Gorosito (11.2 points per game), and Lane (10.7 points per game) are all averaging double figures for San Diego. Johnson has also been a pest defensively, leading the team in steals per game (2.2).
Head coach Steve Lavin is in his fourth year as head coach at San Diego, and has already led the Toreros to as many wins as they had last year (6). Before making the trip up to the Bay Area, USD split its first two conference matchups, beating Pacific (66-54) on Sunday, Dec. 28 before dropping Tuesday night's contest against No. 7/7 Gonzaga.

SERIES HISTORY:

Friday's meeting between San Francisco and San Diego will mark the 96th all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Dons holding a 54-41 advantage. USF is 10-1 against USD in its last 11 matchups dating back to 2019-20 and have won five straight over the Toreros, including two straight season sweeps (2023-24 and 2024-25). Most recently, San Francisco raced past San Diego, 84-61, on the road on Feb. 15, 2025.

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the University of 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 - San Francisco Toyota - for their continued support of University 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.