Redshirt freshman forward Sam Dower scored a career-high 27 points as Gonzaga thumped San Diego 86-53 on Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The victory ended a three-game losing streak for Gonzaga (14-8, 4-3). Elsewhere, Portland defeated Saint Mary's, so the Gaels (18-4, 6-1) are two games up on GU midway through the conference season. USF (4-1 WCC) faces Pepperdine at 7. Santa Clara (4-2) is leading LMU by 10 with about four minutes left.

Dower was 6 of 6 and had 12 points as Gonzaga took a 40-24 halftime lead. The Toreros (4-18, 0-7) trailed 50-33 early in the second half when Gonzaga rattled off 11 unanswered points.Steven Gray hit a pair of 3s and Dower added three free throws in the run.

Gray finished with 12 points. Marquise Carter added 10 points and four assists, Elias Harris nine points and nine rebounds and David Stockton, who started the second half in place of Demetri Goodson, chipped in nine points and four assists.

Complete game story in about two hours.