LOS ANGELES ? The UC San Diego men's basketball team had Cal State L.A. on its heels from the opening tip, scoring 12 of the game's first 15 points en route to a 71-60 CCAA victory Saturday night at the Eagles Nest. UCSD shot better than 50% for the second straight game, finishing at a season-best 55% to down the Golden Eagles. Kelvin Kim scored 15 points to lead the way for the Tritons, who snapped a two-game losing streak with the wire-to-wire victory.

UCSD improves to 12-8 overall and 9-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with the win and remains tied with Cal Poly Pomona for fourth place in the league standings with six games remaining. The Tritons will look to make a push when they return to RIMAC Arena next weekend to begin a four-game homestand, their longest of the season.

Cal State L.A. falls 10-11 overall and 5-9 in the CCAA, after losing its fifth straight.

“We had a great team effort tonight,” head coach Chris Carlson said. “We're pleased with the way the defense played, holding Cal State L.A. to 32% shooting and we were pretty balanced offensively. It was great to get a win before we come home next week.”

Kim finished 5-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-5 at the free throw line to lead all scorers, while Alan Husted scored 11 points and dished out three assists and Jordan Lawley chipped in with 10.

The Tritons held the Golden Eagles to 22.7% shooting and just five field goals in the first half, leading by as many as 13 points in the opening period. UCSD shot 54.5%, converting 12-of-22 shots from the floor in the half. 

The Tritons opened up their biggest lead of the game at 38-23 following a layup by A.J. Maulhardt 3:22 into the second stanza. Cal State L.A. then scored nine unanswered points to pull within five at 43-38 on a three-pointer from Leland Jones with 9:58 remaining.

UCSD responded however, getting back-to-back baskets from Kim and Darryl Lawlor to push the lead back to nine points with 7:36 left to play.

Cal State L.A. cut the deficit to seven points, 51-44, after a pair of free throws from Donte Bell, but the Tritons held their ground once more as Lawlor converted a bucket in the paint and Husted drilled a triple to make it a 12-point lead, 58-46 with four minutes left.

UCSD stretched its lead to 62-47 on Casey Ryan's layup, before a late CSULA surge capped off by another Jones three made it 68-60 with 24 seconds left. The Tritons hit three free throws down the stretch to account for the final margin.  

UCSD connected on 22-of-40 shots for the game, while limiting Cal State L.A. to just 32.7% shooting, 16-of-49.

Chris Mark led the Golden Eagles with 14 points, while Jones finished with 13 points and Artis Gant and Bell each had 11.

UCSD returns to the court on Friday when Cal Poly Pomona comes to town. The Broncos defeated the Tritons 54-51 on January 10.