LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego men's basketball team made 53 percent of its shots overall and netted nine three-pointers en route to an 86-74 non-conference win against Colorado School of Mines Sunday at RIMAC Arena.
UCSD (2-0) was 30-for-57 from the field and 9-for-20 from behind the arc. In the second half, the Tritons made 67 percent (16-24) of their shots and drained six of nine three-point attempts.
Drew Dyer finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, both game-highs, to lead the Tritons. The senior forward was 7-for-11 with four treys. He also added two assists and a steal. Adam Klie totaled 14 points, Grant Jackson had 12 and freshman Chris Hansen chipped in with 10.
CSM (2-1), ranked 10th in the NABC preseason national poll, hit 48 percent (28-59) of its shots in the game, but made good on only two of 10 three-point attempts. Caleb Waitsman was 8-for-15, finishing with a team-high 16 points. Gokul Natesan had 15 points and dished out four assists, while Joe Dellenbach had 13 points.
UC San Diego scored the first two points of the game on a Jackson layup, but would not lead again until the 1:35 mark of the opening half. At 8:58, a three by Dellenbach put the Orediggers up by seven, 27-20, their largest lead of the contest. The Tritons chipped away and briefly led when Jackson made a free throw to make it 34-33. However, a pair of free throws by Adam Laine gave Mines a 35-34 advantage heading into the break.
It was all UC San Diego in the second stanza. With 18:19 left, a Zach McMillan layup tied the game at 37-37. Jackson followed with a three on the Tritons' next possession and they would not surrender their lead the rest of the way. UCSD led by 14 points five different times in the second half.
Thirteen of Dyer's points came in the second stanza as he was 5-for-5. Both Dyer and Anthony Ballestero were 2-for-2 from long range in the period.
UCSD faces another nationally-ranked team Tuesday as it hosts No. 11 California Baptist (6-0) at 7 p.m. The Lancers have defeated a trio of California Collegiate Athletic Association teams, including Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State East Bay and Cal State L.A.
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