SAN DIEGO — The University of San Diego didn’t get the statement win it wanted Saturday, but it delivered a statement anyway: this team will be a problem for everyone. UC San Diego needed a late rally to take the inaugural National University Bill Walton Classic.

The Tritons overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat USD 90-88 in overtime at Pechanga Arena, securing their first victory of the season after trailing for nearly 38 minutes of the contest.

For USD (1-1), the loss came with encouraging signs against a UC San Diego program that captured a share of the Big West regular-season championship and won the conference tournament last season, earning its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Toreros entered the matchup looking to build on their season-opening victory over New Mexico State and demonstrate improvement from a 2025-26 campaign in which maintaining leads and closing out games proved challenging.

Although those difficulties resurfaced Saturday, USD's ability to compete with the defending conference champions offered an early indication of its potential.

Both teams opened the contest playing at a quick pace, with turnovers and defensive pressure creating opportunities in transition.

USD eventually settled into its offense, building an 18-11 advantage after the first quarter. The Toreros maintained their lead through the second, taking a 38-30 advantage into halftime.

Junior guard Kylie Ray helped establish USD's early offensive rhythm, scoring 9 of her 14 points in the first half. She finished with nine rebounds and five assists, although she fouled out in the fourth quarter.

The Toreros continued to find offensive success in the third quarter, extending their lead to as many as 16 points before entering the final period ahead 57-47.

However, UC San Diego (1-1) began to shift the momentum in the fourth quarter.

The Tritons outscored USD 31-21 in the period, shooting 69% from the field and connecting on four of seven attempts from beyond the arc.

UC San Diego's late rally forced overtime, where the Tritons outscored the Toreros 12-10 to complete the comeback.

The loss highlighted an area that remains a priority for USD entering the new season: maintaining composure and executing offensively when opponents begin closing the scoring gap.

While USD entered the season needing additional scoring production beyond returning contributors Ray and Olivia Owens, Saturday's matchup offered promising performances from Eva Ruse and Jessica Ajayi.

Ruse recorded a double-double with a team-high 20 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 6-for-9 from the field and 7-for-10 from the free-throw line. She also contributed three blocks and a steal, providing a strong presence on both ends of the floor.

Ajayi added 18 points off the bench, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and connecting four times from beyond the arc. Her perimeter shooting helped USD maintain its advantage throughout much of the game.

Guard Sammie Wagner also contributed 11 points, with nine coming in the fourth quarter. Wagner connected on two 3-pointers in the final period, helping the Toreros respond as UC San Diego chipped away at their lead.

Owens finished with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists before taking a hard fall in the second half. She did not return to the game.

The Toreros also received contributions from Lilly Amor, who recorded three steals, and Braelynn Barnett, who added four points off the bench.

USD finished shooting 46.2% from the field and 45.8% from beyond the arc, while outrebounding UC San Diego 45-32.

The offensive balance was a promising development for a Toreros team looking to establish more consistent scoring options this season.

For UC San Diego, the victory offered an early example of the resilience that helped the Tritons reach the NCAA Tournament in each of their first two seasons of Division I postseason eligibility.

Sophomore guard Lev Feiman played an important role in the comeback, finishing with a game-high 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting. She also contributed five rebounds and four assists.

Feiman entered her sophomore campaign with an opportunity to assume greater responsibility within UC San Diego's offense after averaging 6.5 points and 15.3 minutes per game as a freshman.

Her performance Saturday demonstrated her potential to become a more prominent contributor for a team looking to defend its conference championship.

Senior forward Erin Condron added 19 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks, providing a strong interior presence throughout the contest. Condron, who earned All-Big West first-team honors last season, helped UC San Diego establish an advantage inside. 

The Tritons finished with 52 points in the paint compared with USD's 32.

Sophomore guard Michaela Fairwell provided another important offensive spark, scoring 17 points on an efficient 7-for-9 shooting performance. She also recorded three steals. Fairwell scored nine of her points in the fourth quarter, helping the Tritons complete their comeback.

Freshman guard Sadie Sin added 13 points and three assists, connecting on three of five attempts from beyond the arc. Her perimeter shooting helped the Tritons create scoring opportunities as they worked to erase USD's lead.

Senior guard Alexandra Cummins contributed nine points and four assists off the bench, connecting three times from beyond the arc.

The Tritons also capitalized on USD's 19 turnovers, scoring 23 points off those mistakes.

The matchup was part of the inaugural National University Bill Walton Classic, a college basketball doubleheader celebrating the life and legacy of the late basketball Hall of Famer and San Diego native.

Walton, who attended Helix High School in La Mesa before becoming a two-time NCAA champion at UCLA and a two-time NBA champion, remained closely connected to San Diego throughout his life.

The event brought together three of the city's Division I basketball programs at Pechanga Arena, celebrating Walton's contributions to basketball and his commitment to community, teamwork and bringing people together through sports.

Earlier Saturday, San Diego State's men's basketball team defeated Colorado 77-66 in the opening game of the doubleheader. Chance Gladden led the Aztecs with 20 points, while Latrell Davis added 18.

The women's matchup also marked the first meeting between USD and UC San Diego since the Tritons transitioned to Division I in 2020, offering an early look at a developing crosstown rivalry. UC San Diego is scheduled to join USD in the West Coast Conference beginning with the 2027-28 season.

For both women's programs, Saturday's game offered more than an opportunity to participate in a celebration of San Diego basketball.

UC San Diego demonstrated its ability to rally under pressure, while USD showed it could challenge one of the region's most successful programs despite falling short.

With both teams still within their opening week, the matchup offered valuable lessons about their development and the adjustments needed moving forward.

Web Photo Credit: Belen Palomino Young / @belens_gameday