LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Returning to Las Vegas for the third time this year, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (18-13, 7-9 WCC) is hungry for some magic in March as the Dons will begin play in the 2023 University Credit Union West Coast Conference Tournament on Friday night against Pacific (15-17, 7-9 WCC)) at Orleans Arena.
 
GAME 32 INFORMATION:
Date: Mar. 3, 2023
Time: 8:30 pm PT
Opponent: 7-seed Pacific (15-17, 7-9 WCC)
Site: Orleans Arena 
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
Watch: NBC Sports California/WCC Network
Listen: KNBR 1050
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• Last time out, USF fell on the road at BYU, 87-61, to close the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 25. Notably, Khalil Shabazz tallied his fourteenth 20+ point performance of the year by pouring in a team-high 21 points to along with two steals, one rebound and one assist in 37 minutes played.
• This week, Shabazz and Tyrell Roberts were both named to the All-WCC Men's Basketball First Team after impressive seasons in the backcourt. Overall, Shabazz has earned a spot on an All-WCC team for the third straight year while Roberts' selection makes it the second straight year in which USF has had two First Team selections (Jamaree Bouyea and Yauhen Massalski in 2021-22).
• Breaking milestones all season, Shabazz has climbed up the program's all-time leaderboard as he currently ranks first all-time in three pointers made (284), third in steals (230), tied for fourth in free throw percentage (81.7) and fifth all-time in scoring (1,733) heading into his final WCC Tournament.
• Overall, USF has won at least one game in three straight WCC tournaments. Dating back to 2018, the Dons have dropped their first game in Vegas only once – an 89-72 loss to Pepperdine in 2019.
• After beginning conference play with a 1-5 record earlier this year, the Dons responded by finishing their WCC slate with a 6-4 record in their final ten league games, which included two three-game winning streaks.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Handling business on Thursday night, Pacific downed Pepperdine, 84-71, as the Tigers advanced to the second round of the tournament to set up their third matchup with the Dons. Individually, Keylan Boone (25 points) and Moe Odum (22 points) combined for 57 of Pacific's 84 points in the win. 
• Aside from Boone and Odum, USF will look to contain sharpshooter Luke Avdalovic, who led the conference with a 51.2 percent clip from beyond-the-arc this season. As a team, Pacific also proved to be strong from deep as the Tigers led the WCC with a 39.3 percent clip.
• Additionally, Pacific was efficient on the offensive end as a whole as the Tigers ranked in the top five in the conference in three-point percentage, total points (2,355), free throws made per game (14.3, fourth) and three-pointers made per game (9.1, fourth) this year. 

SERIES HISTORY:

• Friday's meeting between the Tigers and Dons will mark the 112^th meeting all-time between the two programs as USF currently holds a 79-32 record against Pacific, including a series sweep of UOP this year. Overall, USF is 6-1 against Pacific in neutral site contests, including a 3-0 record against the Tigers in the WCC Tournament.  

TRACK THE ACTION:
Saturday's contest in Las Vegas will be available via the WCC Network and KNBR 1050 at game time. 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 USF men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at www.usfdons.com/shop.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge our department sponsor – Planet Orange - 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.