Toreros Have the Means (Danny) to Defeat Seattle Pacific by 20

SAN DIEGO —  Danny Means had not been shooting well. Honest.

You would not have known by his performance Saturday night when the University of San Diego men’s basketball team routed Seattle Pacific University, 86-66, in the USD Sports Center.

Through USD’s first five games, Means’ field-goal accuracy was 34%. From 3-point range, he was making only 31%, from the free-throw line, a dismal 50%.

In the team’s last game, against Cal State Fullerton, Means did not start for the first time in 63 games.

What was wrong with Danny Means--the captain, leader, one of only two seniors and the only true veteran on Coach Hank Egan’s squad?

Confidence, he said.

Well, Means got a head full of it on a career-high scoring night against an NCAA Division II team playing its only Division I opponent of the year. Seattle Pacific (6-1) lost for the first time.

In just 25 minutes, Means scored 26 points. His previous career high was 22.

Including 7 of 10 from 3-point range, Means made 9 of 13 shots.

His seven 3-pointers were one shy of the USD team record held by Mark Manor.

At one point in the first half, he scored 18 consecutive points for the Toreros over a span of 6:20.

In the first half, it seemed he would beat Seattle Pacific on his own. He scored 21 points; the Falcons had 22. But Means only played 13 minutes 6 seconds in the half.

He played only 11:06 in the second half but scored USD’s first five points to give the Toreros a 51-24 lead.

This was a blowout from the tipoff. Means drilled a 3-pointer to start the scoring followed, by 6 consecutive points from junior Craig Cottrell (16 points and a game-high 7 rebounds) and a layup by Gylan Dottin (13 points, 4 rebounds).

USD led, 14-5, when Means went on his scoring binge and 32-13 before it was over. USD’s biggest lead of the game was 30 points with 4:50 remaining.