San Diego Upsets #20 St. Mary's

SAN DIEGO 63, (20) SAINT MARYS CA 55 ------------------------

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Brandon Johnson's late push kept San Diego from dealing with another close game. Johnson scored 10 of his 25 points over the final four minutes as the Toreros knocked off No. 20 Saint Mary's in a West Coast Conference showdown on Monday.

Having won three of its last four games by five points or less, San Diego (11-11, 4-1 WCC) found itself in another tight affair, especially after freshman Trumaine Johnson's jumper with 5:28 remaining tied the score at 48-48. After Patrick Mills came up short on a 3-pointer for Saint Mary's on the other end, Brandon Johnson took over. The junior guard connected on his second basket from the arc with 3:54 to go.

With the Gaels missing four straight field goals, De'Jon Jackson added a jumper for a 53-48 lead with 2:49 remaining before Brandon Johnson added five consecutive points over the next minute. Although Mills and Todd Golden responded with a jumper and a 3-pointer for Saint Mary's, Brandon Johnson's two free throws with 40 seconds to play made it 60-53. Jackson added three free throws in the closing 27 seconds to secure the third straight win for the Toreros.

While San Diego caught fire in the second half by shooting 67 percent (14-of-21), Saint Mary's (17-3, 4-1) went 9-of-27 from the field after halftime to have its five-game winning streak end. The loss also dropped the Gaels out of a first-place tie with Gonzaga atop the West Coast Conference standings. Mills had 13 points for Saint Mary's, which finished 40 percent (21-of-53) from the field and committed 16 turnovers.