HAYWARD, Calif. - The UC San Diego men's basketball team registered its first victory of the season on Tuesday, handily defeating Cal State East Bay, 70-50, in a conference matchup at CSUEB's Pioneer Gymnasium. Senior guard
Tyler Acevedo led all scorers with 16 points to pace the Tritons offensively, while the defense held the Pioneers to just 33% shooting from the field.
With the win, UCSD improves to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Tuesday's victory snapped the Tritons' four-game skid to open the season -- the program's longest losing streak since UCSD dropped five straight to end the 2007-08 regular season.
Cal State East Bay, which is in its first season as a member of the CCCA, falls to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
"It definitely feels good to get a win," head coach
Chris Carlson said. "We've had some really good practices lately and I think it transferred over to tonight's game. I'm pleased with our effort on the defensive end and we rebounded the ball well and those are two things that we need to do well to be successful."
The Tritons entered Tuesday's game allowing 68.2 points per game, but put the clamps down on the Pioneers, holding the home team to just 20 points in the first half and 34 after nearly 35 minutes of play. UCSD shot 50% (26-52) for the game, while limiting CSUEB to just 33.3% (19-57).
Acevedo, who was in the starting lineup for the first time this season, led three Tritons in double figures, finishing 5-of-11 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from the three-point line. He also had six rebounds and a career-best five assists in his best all-around game of the season.
Sophomore center
Christian Hatch also came up with a big performance, recording his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, both of which established new personal bests. He was 4-for-9 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line.
Senior
Jordan Lawley finished with 13 points, reaching double figures for the third time in five games this season. He also tallied six boards, five assists, and a steal.
UCSD was in control from the opening tip, scoring 10 of the game's first 15 points. The Tritons extended their lead to 17-7 on a three from freshman
Dylan Bohanan with less than nine minutes to play in the first half and Lawley's jumper with 4:19 left made it 25-11.
CSUEB closed to within nine (28-19) on a bucket from Ryan Parker, but Lawley and Hatch answered with jumpers to push it back to 13 at 32-19 with 43 seconds remaining in the period.
UCSD's lead was trimmed to six (36-30) 5:42 into the second half, but the Tritons scored 14 unanswered points to put the game away. Acevedo scored 10 of his 16 points during the stretch, including a pair of threes.
The Tritons would lead by as many as 24 in the waning moments before two Pioneer three's cut it to 17. A
Tyler McGrath triple pushed the final margin back to 20.
Prince Ray Pope was the only player to score in double figures for CSUEB, finishing with 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting. Three players finished with six points apiece for the Pioneers, who finished just 7-of-20 at the foul line.
UCSD held a decisive 46-30 advantage on the glass.
The Tritons will look to make it two in a row when they take on San Diego Christian College in their first home appearance of the season Tuesday, December 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
