Carter's Heroics Power Toreros to Comeback Win
Down 81-76 to the San Francisco Dons with ten seconds left, facing what looked like a third loss in a row and a fourth loss in five games, the USD Toreros needed a spark.
Enter Olin Carter III.
The senior guard hit a three with nine seconds left to cut the deficit to 81-79. After San Francisco hit one of two free throws to make it 82-79 with 4.4 seconds left, Isaiah Pineiro inbounded the ball to Finn Sullivan who pushed it up the floor and handed it off to Carter at half court.
Carter took one dribble, launched a 35 footer for tie, and in true March fashion, banked it in to send the game to overtime tied at 82.
USD trailed by 10 with 3:33 to go and 72-78 with 55 seconds left.
The Toreros once again found themselves down in overtime, trailing 90-85 with 2:09 to go.
Pineiro hit a layup to cut the Dons lead to 90-87 and hit two free throws on the next possession to make it a one point game.
Two more free throws by Pineiro with 20 seconds left gave USD its first lead of overtime 91-90. Back to back defensive stands gave the Toreros a 91-90 win, the teams best win of the season.
Pineiro led the team with 28 points and is now just six points away from setting the single season all time scoring record. He also had 11 rebounds. Isaiah Wright scored 24, his highest scoring effort since December 23rd. Carter chipped in 16 points.
USD has now won four in a row vs the Dons and handed San Francisco only its second loss in War Memorial Gym all season.
The Toreros record now stands at 18-12 and 7-8 in WCC play. The team will wrap up its regular season this Saturday in Provo, Utah as they take on the BYU Cougars.
