Preview: USD hosts UC Riverside looking to improve to 4-1 in young season

USD (3-1) vs UC Riverside (2-3)

When: 6 p.m. Friday

Where: Jenny Craig Pavilion

Streaming: ESPN+

Last time out: After leading by as much as 18 points in the first half, USD’s defense turned back a second-half Grambling State rally Tuesday night en route to a 78-68 victory at home. The Toreros also hit on 31 of 32 free throws, going 20-for-20 in the second half. Four Toreros finished in double figures. Guards Ty-Laur Johnson, Toneari Lane and Juanse Gorosito scored 15, 15 and 13 points and went a combined 20-for-20 from the foul line. Forward Vuk Boskovic scored 11 points.

Series history: USD leads the all-time series 10-4, and has won 8 of the last 9 meetings.

Highlanders’ notes: UCR has lost three straight games. Guard Marqui Worthy Jr. is the Highlanders’ leading scorer with 15.8 poinds per game and second-leading rebounder with 5.2 boards per game. Guard Andrew Henderson is averaging 15.4 points per game, while forward Osiris Grady is averaging 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Toreros notes: After entering the Grambling game ranked seventh in the nation in 3-point shooting, the Toreros went just 9-for-31 from deep against the Tigers. Gorosito (14.5), Lane (11.8) and Johnson (10.5) are USD’s three leading scorers on the season and are a combined 28-for-57 (49.1%) from 3-point range and 27-for-30 (90%) from the foul line. Despite Tuesday’s struggles, USD is still averaging 10.7 3-pointers per game while shooting 41.7%.

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