LA JOLLA, Calif. - Will Olsem scored 18 points to lead four players in double figures as visiting Sonoma State handed the UC San Diego men's basketball team a 70-57 loss on Wednesday night at RIMAC Arena.
Jordan Lawley finished with 15 points to pace the Tritons, who lost for the first time in three games on their home floor.
The game was tied at 46 with 10:21 remaining, but the Seawolves used a 22-7 run over the next seven and a half minutes to take control and sweep the season series. With the win, Sonoma improves to 11-15 overall and 10-11 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play and clinched a berth in next week's conference tournament.
The loss drops UCSD to 8-16 overall and 7-14 in the CCAA. The Tritons, who needed to win their final two games to have any shot at advancing, are now officially eliminated from postseason contention.
Olsem finished 6-of-15 from the field, including 5-of-13 from behind the three-point arc, en route to high scoring honors. He scored 16 of his 18 points in the opening half, helping the Seawolves claim a six-point lead at the break.
Reigning CCAA Player of the Week Steven Pratt tallied 15 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, while connecting on 7-of-13 shots from the floor. Chad Chambers added 13 points and six boards, while Kyle Shandera finished with 12 and six, respectively.
Lawley was the only player to reach double figures for UCSD, as the Triton offense shot just 37% (20-54). The conference's leading scorer dropped 5-of-12 shots from the field and went 4-of-5 at the free throw line.
Christian Hatch finished with eight points and seven rebounds, while Dylan Bohanan also scored eight on 4-of-6 shooting.
Lawley hit a three to give UCSD a 17-11 lead with 12:37 to play in the opening half, but Sonoma scored nine of the next 11 points to take a 21-19 advantage. The score was tied at 27 with 3:50 remaining, but the Seawolves answered again, closing the half on an 11-5 spurt to lead 38-32 at intermission.
Olsem hit all five of his threes in the first 20 minutes, with two coming in the final three minutes.
UCSD came back to take a 42-40 lead following back-to-back baskets from Hatch and a Lawley jumper, but the Seawolves scored the next six points to lead 46-42 with 11:27 left. Andrew Browning scored inside on the Tritons' next trip and Lawley followed with a runner, but it was all Sonoma after that, as the visitors scored seven straight to take a 53-46 advantage with 8:39 left to play.
Chambers hit a triple to make it 62-52 three and a half minutes later and his basket with 1:05 on the clock gave the Seawolves their biggest lead at 70-53.
Sonoma shot 48% in the second half and finished at a 46% (26-56) clip for the game. The Seawolves held a 39-31 rebounding advantage, while the Tritons claimed a 20-6 margin in bench scoring.
UCSD will wrap up the season on Friday night when league-leading Humboldt State comes to town and 7:30 p.m. Lawley and fellow senior Tyler Acevedo will be honored with a special ceremony prior to tipoff.
