Alcalá 1986

The 1985-86 University of San Diego basketball team, under the leadership of second year coach Hank Egan, had seventeen tudent athletes on the roster, including nine experienced returners. Be– sides experience, Coach Egan had both size and quickness when the Toreros opened their 1985-86 season against Athletes-in-Action on November 6 at the USD Sports Center. The team ended its 1984-85 season with a fine 16-11 overall record and a fourth place standing in the tough West Coast Athletic Conference with a 5- 7 mark. The Toreros had some big wins in their 11-4 pre-season start as they beat Nevada-Reno (80-75), San Jose State (65-63), Pacific (53-47), and Northern Arizona (54-53). Ten of those pre– season wins came at home against no losses. However, the Toreros found the going a lot tougher in the WCAC. USD opened league play with a 60- 50 loss to Pepperdine University ( 1985 Champs) and proceeded to lose four of their first five WCAC contests. USD caught on fire and won four of their next five with victories over Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, Portland, and Gonzaga. With a WCAC mark of 5-5 going into their last two games, the Toreros dropped both, losing heartbreakers to Pepperdine (57-54) and Loyola Marymount (66-64) which ended conference play. The outlook for this year in regards to the conference race was based on last year's re ults. "The odds-on favorite is Pepperdine because they won it all last year and have everyone returning. Most people in the conference had a good recruit– ing year and should give Pepperdine a run for their money." SD' nonconference schedule included three trips to tournaments. The Toreros travelled to the New Mexico Tournament (Nov. 22,24); to the Montana Tournament (Dec. 6,7); and to the Uni– versity of Texa Tournament (Dec. 20,21). Other key non-conference games included contests with Nevada - Reno (Nov. 29), Cal State Fullerton (Dec. 3) and the Dec. 14th game with the an Diego State Aztecs at the SportS Arena. USD's returning players who were key ingredi– ents to the team's more than satisfactory record over the pa t two years (34-21) were present this year. Junior center Scott Thomp on came back, bigger and better than ever. He wa officially mea– sured at 7'0" along with a team leading 260 lbs.. He came co U D two years ago as a freshman weigh - ing in at 240 lbs. and 6'11". Thompson, an All– WCAC choice as a sophomore a year ago, scored at an 11.1 ppg clip, grabbed 6.7 boards and shot 55.5 % from the field. Also back were guard Kiki J ackson (9.1 ppg. 2.5 assists pg) and 6'7" power forward Nil Madden (4.3 ppg. 3.5 rebounds pg. 51.8% from field). USD had to replace two out- BASKETBALL