CROSSTOWN SHOWDOWN

Toreros Snatch Victory with Half-Second Remaining

Friday night's crosstown rivalry delivered drama until the final buzzer, as junior guard Ty-Laur Johnson banked in a game-winning three-pointer with half a second remaining to lift San Diego men's basketball past UC San Diego 82-80 at LionTree Arena.

The victory was historic on multiple fronts. The Toreros secured their first Quad-1 win in almost seven years, ending a 40-game drought dating back to February 2019, and claimed their first road victory in 678 days. USD became just the second WCC team to notch a Quad-1 win this season, joining No. 3 Gonzaga.

Standout Performances

Johnson finished with a season-best 23 points, his fourth 20-plus point game of the season, along with seven assists, six rebounds, and three made threes. The junior guard has now scored 23 points in back-to-back games.

Aviles grabbed a USD season-high eight rebounds in just his fourth career game while adding seven points, four assists, a steal, and a block. Graduate guard Toneari Lane contributed a season-best 17 points.

The Toreros' precision at the free-throw line proved crucial, as USD went 10-for-11 from the charity stripe. Entering the contest ranked 11th nationally in free-throw percentage, the team now sits sixth in the country at 79.1%.

The win improved USD's record against UC San Diego to 21-3 and launched the Toreros 40 spots up the NET rankings to No. 217.

MEN’S SOCCER: MLS SUPERDRAFT

Double Draft Success: James and Wagner head to MLS

San Diego men's soccer added two more names to its growing professional pipeline on Thursday, as Noah James and Iain Wagner were both selected in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.

James, a junior midfielder, was picked 62nd overall by Atlanta FC after earning All-WCC Second Team honors in his first season with the Toreros. The Poway native delivered one of the season's most memorable moments with two late goals, including the game-winner in the final seconds, against California Baptist at Torero Stadium.

Sophomore midfielder Wagner stayed close to home as LAFC's 84th overall selection. He led USD in both goals (9) and points (22) this past season, earning All-WCC First Team and WCC All-Academic Team honors while scoring in each of the Toreros' final four matches.

This marks the second consecutive year multiple USD student-athletes have been drafted, following Donovan Parisian's first-round and Samy Kanaan's second-round selections in 2025. The West Coast Conference placed six players in Thursday's 90-player draft, with USD and Portland the only programs featuring multiple selections.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL RECAP

Toreros Gut Out One-Point Victory Over Titans

San Diego women's basketball (6-7, 0-0 WCC) wrapped up non-conference play in dramatic fashion, securing a hard-fought 56-55 victory over Cal State Fullerton (5-6, 2-2 Big West) on Saturday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

🏀 The Toreros built a first-half lead behind hot three-point shooting, connecting on seven shots from beyond the arc. Jayden Rhodes and Olivia Owens paced the long-range attack with two triples each.

Owens knocked down a crucial three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining to give USD a 56-53 advantage. She finished as the team's leading scorer with 13 points while grabbing nine rebounds. Hallie Rhodes added 12 points in the winning effort.

Sophomore forward Dresha Moore recorded a season-high 10 rebounds in 22 minutes, while Helen Holley chipped in seven points and five boards against the Titans.

The game's final sequence epitomized USD's defensive tenacity. With four seconds remaining and Fullerton threatening to steal the victory, H. Rhodes blocked the Titans' game-winning attempt at the buzzer, preserving the one-point triumph.

🔷 The victory marked the Toreros' third consecutive win at home, improving their impressive home record to 5-2 this season. With six wins already secured, USD has matched its entire regular season total from 2024-25.