SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Closing out the calendar year with their final nonconference contest of the season, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (10-4) will host Mississippi Valley State (0-12) for a matinee matchup at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
GAME 15 INFORMATION:
Date: Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023
Time: 3:00 pm PST
Opponent: Mississippi Valley State (0-12)
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 raced past Fresno State, 77-57, at home on the Hilltop on Friday, Dec. 22. Overall, the Dons knocked down 15 three-pointers for the second game in a row while limiting the Bulldogs to just 3-of-18 (16.7 percent) from beyond-the-arc. Individually, three players finished in double figures: Malik Thomas (22 points), Marcus Williams (11 points) and Mike Sharavjamts (10 points).
• Making his first start at the collegiate level last week against Northern Arizona, Thomas was tabbed Player of the Week by the WCC on Monday, Dec. 26 as the junior tallied back-to-back career-highs in points for the Dons last week in USF's wins over NAU and Fresno State.
• Nationally, the green and gold continue their push towards a postseason berth as USF currently ranks in the top 50 in the country in: scoring defense (60.5/10th), three-point percentage defense (28.2/29th), field goal percentage (48.85/31st), effective field goal percentage (.561/35th), rebound margin (7.0/39th), turnovers forced per game (15.50/T-40th), field goal percentage defense (39.589/43rd) and steals per game (8.9, T-44th).
• With one game left on their nonconference slate, San Francisco is the second highest WCC team in the NCAA's NET Rankings as the Dons are currently at No. 48, just four spots behind conference leader No. 13 Gonzaga, who is at 44.
• Since Coach Gerlufsen came to the Hilltop prior to the start of the 2021-22 season, San Francisco is 37-13 overall in nonconference games heading into Saturday, including a 23-1 mark at home during this span.

SCOUTING THE DELTA DEVILS:

• Still searching for their first win of the 2023-24 campaign, Mississippi Valley State fell on the road at Baylor, 107-48, in their last time on the hardwood on Friday, Dec. 22. Notably, Reginald Reynolds (14 points) and Rayquan Brown (13 points) led the team in scoring against the Bears.
• Overall, Brown leads the Delta Devils in scoring on the season with an average of 15.5 points per game. Close behind, Donovan Sanders (9.8 points per game) and Arecko Gipson (9.7 points per game) are each a few ticks shy of averaging double figures.
• Looking at their schedule, the Delta Devils have already faced off against three fellow WCC members on the road this season: at Santa Clara on Nov. 20 (L, 81-39), at Pacific on Nov. 26 (L, 68-65/OT) and at Gonzaga on Dec. 11 (L, 78-40).

SERIES HISTORY:
Saturday's contest between San Francisco and Mississippi Valley State will mark the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
 
TRACK THE ACTION:
Saturday's contest will air live on ESPN+ at game time with Chris Sylvester and Dior Lowhorn on the call. The game will also air live on KNBR 1050 at game time as Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will have the call from the Hilltop. Live streaming, radio and live statistics links are available above and via the team's schedule page.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on X, @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 - Catholic Charities San Francisco - 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.