SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Traveling on less than 72 hours notice, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (13-2, 0-0) battled to the brink with Loyola Chicago (10-2, 1-0) on Thursday afternoon, but the Dons ultimately fell to the Ramblers, 79-74, at Lifetime Activities Center on the campus of Salt Lake Community College.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Playing at a neutral site for the fifth time this season, the Dons traded baskets with Loyola Chicago to begin the contest as back-to-back layups from Khalil Shabazz and Jamaree Bouyea put USF on top, 10-7, at the first media timeout.
• As the first half played on, the two teams continued to match each other shot for shot, but the Ramblers would find a few stops midway through the period to gain a five-point advantage, 24-19, at the 9:31 mark.
• In the moments to follow, the Dons would flip the script with a 14-6 run of their own to jump back in front, 33-30, following a three-pointer from Zane Meeks at 4:42. Battling until the buzzer, a layup from Yauhen Massalski with 27 seconds remaining in the half kept USF in the driver's seat heading into the locker room as the Dons led the Ramblers by one, 39-38.
• Coming out of the break, both teams continued to attack offensively as another layup from Massalski knotted the score at 49 at 15:44 in the second half. As the ten minute mark approached, Loyola Chicago regained the lead, but the Dons continued to dazzle in the paint as a crafty layup from Shabazz at 10:27 kept USF within one, 61-60.
• Down the stretch, the Ramblers found momentum as a team as they delivered consecutive defensive stops against USF to pull ahead by nine, 75-66, with just over six minutes left in regulation.
• Showing their grit once again, the Dons climbed back to within three points using the strength of the three as another triple from Meeks with 1:23 on the clock made it a one possession game.
• Unable to convert in their last push, USF's final looks at the basket in the closing seconds would fall just short as Loyola Chicago hung on to defeat the Dons with a 79-74 victory. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Finishing a perfect 10-of-10 from the floor, Massalski was tabbed Player of the Game after tallying a team-high 20 points and 5 rebounds. Overall, the 6'10" forward also added 4 blocks and 3 assists in an all-around effort.
• From the guard position, Shabazz (15 points) reached double figures for the ninth time this season while Bouyea (13 points) achieved the feat for the twelfth time this season.
• Despite the loss, the Dons enjoyed success shooting the ball as a whole as Thursday marked the sixth time this year and the third consecutive game in which USF has shot over 50 percent from the field as a team. Additionally, San Francisco led Loyola Chicago in points in the paint (44-38) and fast break points (6-0).

POSTGAME:

• To view the full highlights of today's contest, please click here.
• To view the full postgame interview with head coach Todd Golden, please click here.

UP NEXT:
USF will return home to the Hilltop this Saturday, Jan. 8 to open West Coast Conference play as the Dons are set to host San Diego at 4:00 pm. Live stream, radio, live statistics and ticket links are all available 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.