SANTA BARBARA, Calif. ? The UC San Diego men's basketball team opened up its 2005-06 exhibition season with a 57-36 loss at UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night. Junior Robby Peters led the Triton offense with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the floor.

UCSB held a 35-16 lead after the first half but the Tritons played well in the second half, scoring only two points less than the Gauchos in the second stanza. Chidi Ajufo led the UCSB offense with 13 points on the night while Chris Devine added 10 in the victory.

UCSD had all 16 of its players see action in the game as Andrew Hatch scored eight points to begin his follow up season to a California Collegiate Athletic Association Freshman of the Year campaign in 2004-05.

As a team the Tritons struggled from the field, going 16-for-47 from the field and 3-for-20 from behind the 3-point line. Defensively, UCSD held the Gauchos to 17-of-40 shooting from the field and 0-for-3 from beyond the arc.

Head coach Bill Carr and his team continues its preseason with a game at Gonzaga on Saturday, November 12 in Spokane, Wash. The Tritons will then conclude its exhibition slate with a game at Eastern Washington on Sunday, November 13 in Cheyney, Wash.