SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Back on the Hilltop to kick off West Coast Conference play, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (13-2, 0-0) will aim to bounce back following a close loss to Loyola Chicago on Thursday when they host San Diego (7-6, 0-0) on Saturday afternoon at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
GAME 16 INFORMATION:
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 8, 2021 – 4:00 p.m.
Opponent: San Diego (7-6, 0-0) 
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center (San Francisco, Calif.)
Video: NBC Sports Bay Area (Barry Tompkins, Dan Belluomini) / Stadium (Out-of-Market)
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson + Jim Brovelli)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast 
Tickets: Purchase Here
Updated COVID-19 Protocol: Click Here 

DONS AT A GLANCE:

• Battling at a neutral site on less than 72 hours notice, USF fell to Loyola Chicago, 79-74, at Salt Lake Community College on Thursday, Jan. 6 after both teams had their previously scheduled conference matchups postponed due to COVID-19 related protocols. Despite the loss, graduate transfer Yauhen Massalski put together yet another dominant performance as he finished a perfect 10-of-10 from the floor with a team-high 20 points and 5 rebounds while also adding 4 blocks and 3 assists. Overall, the Dons shot well as a team (53.3 percent) as Thursday marked the sixth time this year and the third consecutive game in which USF shot over 50 percent from the field as a group.
• Proving that he is one of the most versatile big men in the conference, Massalski currently leads the WCC in field goal percentage (63.2) and offensive rebounds (46) while also ranking in the top five in blocks (33, second), total rebounds (115), made field goals (91, third), rebounds per game (7.7, fourth), games started (15, fourth) and total games played (15, fifth). Massalski, who played four years with the Toreros while earning his undergraduate degree before transferring to USF this summer, will face his former school for the first time in Saturday's showdown.
• Dangerous on both ends, the Dons rank in the top five in the conference as a team in both scoring offense (75.9 points per game, third) and scoring defense (64.1, fifth). Notably, USF is shooting 48.4 percent from the field on the season, good for third in the WCC, while limiting their opponents to 40.6 percent from the floor, good for fourth.

SCOUTING THE TOREROS:

• In their last time out, San Diego fell on the road at UNLV, 80-57, on Dec. 22 in their final nonconference bout of the season. Leading the Toreros, Marcellus Earlington reached double figures for his team-leading tenth time this year as the senior tallied 14 points and two rebounds.
• Individually, Earlington (13.6 ppg) is one of two Toreros to average over 10 points per game as teammate Jace Townsend comes into Saturday with an average of 11.7 points per contest.
• Playing a somewhat similar schedule to USF, San Diego knocked off Nevada, 75-68, on Nov. 12 before losing to Fresno State, 63-43, on the road on Dec. 1. Additionally, the Toreros also competed in the 2021 Jerry Colangelo Classic at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz. as USD came from behind in the second half to top Northern Arizona, 69-59, on Dec. 18.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Saturday's meeting will mark the 88^th all-time matchup between the two programs as USF currently holds a 47-40 advantage in the series. Aiming to continue their winning streak, the Dons have taken down the Toreros in their previous three battles, including a season sweep of USD in 2020-21. 

TRACK THE ACTION:
Saturday's contest will air live on NBC Sports Bay Area (Local) and Stadium (Out-of-Market) at 4:00 pm as Barry Tompkins and Dan Belluomini will have the call from the Hilltop. Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will also air live on KNBR 1050 at game time. Live streaming, live audio, live statistics and tickets are available above and via the team's schedule page.
 
TICKETS AND MERCHANDISE:
Single game tickets for all 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.