UC SAN DIEGO VITALS
National Rank: 11 (NABC)/8 (D2SIDA)
Overall: 9-1
CCAA: 4-0
CCAA Standing: T-1st (Cal Poly Pomona)
Home: 5-1
Away: 3-0
Neutral: 1-0
Streak: won 2

THE SCHEDULE
Game 11
vs. Humboldt State (9-1, 3-1 CCAA)
Friday, Jan. 1 • 7:30 p.m.
RIMAC Arena • La Jolla, Calif.
Live Stats • Live Video • Tickets

Game 12
vs. No. 5 Cal Poly Pomona (11-0, 4-0 CCAA)
Saturday, Jan. 2 • 7:30 p.m.
RIMAC Arena • La Jolla, Calif.
Live Stats • Live Video • Tickets

PROBABLE TRITON STARTERS
G - #2 Grant Jackson (So., 6-1/175): 5.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, .800 ft%, 23.0 mpg
G - #13 Adam Klie (Jr., 6-4/200): 13.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .543 fg%, 3.1 apg, 26.5 mpg
G - #1 Aleks Lipovic (Jr., 6-4/196): 9.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .500 3fg%, 24.7 mpg
F - #14 Drew Dyer (Sr., 6-6/215): 15.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .500 3fg%, .875 ft%, 29.5 mpg
C - #33 Zach McMillan (Sr., 6-7/215): 6.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .591 fg%, 1.4 bpg, 18.5 mpg

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
• Starters Returning (7): George Buaku (G), Drew Dyer (F), Grant Jackson (G), Adam Klie (G), Aleks Lipovic (G), Zach McMillan (F/C), Hunter Walker (G/F)
• Starters Lost (0)
• Other Letterwinners Returning (3): Kenny Fraser (F), Brett Oosdyke (F), Jeff Van Dyke (G)
• Other Letterwinners Lost (3): Jordan Flannery (G/F), Treavon Francis (G/F), Chase Ogden (F)
• Newcomers (5): Anthony Ballestero (G), Koree Cox (G), Chris Hansen (C), Eric Patton (F), Ben Rico (G)

ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
Three of the Tritons' returning starters - senior forward Drew Dyer, junior guard Adam Klie and senior guard/forward Hunter Walker - were named All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Second Team performers last season. Walker led UCSD in scoring at 12.3 points/game with Klie just behind at 12.2. Walker totaled a team-high 54 assists and Klie led all Tritons with 28 steals. Dyer averaged 11.4 points and held an .857 free throw percentage.

WEEKLY REWIND
UC San Diego went 2-1 in its last week of play. In a battle of undefeated teams, the Tritons lost their first contest of the season, 67-63 against third-ranked Western Oregon at RIMAC Arena. They then beat Cal State Dominguez on the road (73-60) and Cal State San Marcos at home (69-65).
UCSD/WOU Recap
UCSD/CSUDH Recap
UCSD/CSUSM Recap

FOUR ON THE FLOOR
In one of the most unique victories in college basketball history, UC San Diego defeated league rival Cal State San Marcos, 69-65, with just four players on the floor for the final 14 seconds of the game. When Drew Dyer became the fourth Triton to foul out of the game, UCSD did not have an available substitute due to various injuries and redshirts. The Cougars couldn't capitalize on their power play, missing four free throws down the stretch. Game Story | Box Score | Watch Video | Eric Olen Interview | Drew Dyer Interview

UC SAN DIEGO, VIASAT LAUNCH ONLINE STREAMING PARTNERSHIP
UC San Diego Athletics has partnered with local broadband services and technology company ViaSat to create UCSDtritons.tv, an online streaming platform. Initially, the channel will carry all Triton home basketball, volleyball and water polo games, a majority of baseball and softball contests, and a selection of home events featuring virtually all of UCSD's 23 intercollegiate sports. All broadcasts will be live, in high definition, and most will include audio talent. Starting Jan. 1, 2016, viewing will be subscription-based. A comprehensive package that gives viewers access to all streamed events from Jan. 1 through the end of the academic year will be available for $29.99. It is estimated that this will include between 50 and 75 games. A single game option can be purchased for $5.99.

DYER 1K
Senior forward Drew Dyer is just eight points shy of 1,000 for his career. Heading into Friday's game, he has amassed 992 points over 86 games, good for 11.5 points/game. Dyer will be the 13th Triton all-time and the fourth in the program's DII history to hit the mark. The last player to do so was James McCann, who totaled 1,339 points between 2010 and 2014.

POLL POSITION
In the most recent NABC national poll (12/15), UC San Diego moved up from No. 14 to No. 11. West Liberty owns the top spot and is followed by Augustana and Western Oregon. Also from the CCAA, Cal Poly Pomona is ranked fifth and Chico State is 17th. Prior to this year, the Tritons had never been nationally-ranked as an NCAA Division II team.

POLL POSITION II
In the Dec. 22 D2SIDA national media poll, the Tritons came in at No. 8, down one spot from No. 7. Midwestern State is first, West Liberty is second and Angelo State and Minnesota State-Moorhead are tied for third. Cal Poly Pomona ranks ninth.

AGAINST THE RANKED
UC San Diego is 2-1 against national top-25 teams so far this season.
• UCSD 86, No. 10 Colorado School of Mines 74 (11/22)
• UCSD 76, No. 4 California Baptist 67 (11/24)
• No. 3 Western Oregon 67, No. 14 UCSD 63 (12/14)

TAKING DOWN NUMBER FOUR
UC San Diego defeated fourth-ranked California Baptist, 76-67, on Nov. 24 in La Jolla. The last time the Tritons beat a higher nationally-ranked team was back in 2006 when they downed No. 2 Montevallo, 61-60, in Las Vegas.

START ME UP
UC San Diego's 7-0 start to the season is its best since joining the NCAA Division II ranks prior to its 2000-01 campaign. The Tritons had never kicked off a season with more than two consecutive victories. As a Division III squad in 1998-99, UCSD went 11-0, its best start in program history.

NO ERROR IN THIS MARGIN
The Tritons' 40-point (76-36) victory at Notre Dame de Namur on Nov. 28 was the team's largest winning margin since defeating UC Merced by 59 (92-33) in December of 2013.

QUICK STATS

CCAA STANDINGS
(through 12/29)
1. Cal Poly Pomona, 4-0
1. UC San Diego, 4-0
3. Chico State, 3-1
3. Humboldt State, 3-1
3. Stanislaus State, 3-1
6. Cal State San Marcos, 2-2
7. Cal State Dominguez Hills, 1-2
7. Cal State L.A., 1-2
7. Cal State Monterey Bay, 1-2
10. Cal State East Bay, 1-3
10. Sonoma State, 1-3
12. Cal State San Bernardino, 0-4
12. SF State, 0-3

UC SAN DIEGO IN THE NCAA STAT RANKINGS
(through 12/20)
Team (all games, in top 50)
2. Scoring Defense (59.6)
3. Three-Point Field Goal Percentage Defense (24.5)
4. Field Goal Percentage Defense (37.4)
16. Field Goal Percentage (50.3)
17. Scoring Margin (14.8)
28. Rebound Margin (7.3)
32. Three-Point Field Goal Percentage (40.4)
44. Defensive Rebounds/Game (28.2)

Individual (all games, in top 100)
14. Drew Dyer, Three-Point Field Goal Percentage (50.0)
14. Aleks Lipovic, Three-Point Field Goal Percentage (50.0)
84. Drew Dyer, Three-Point Field Goals/Game (2.8)
84. Aleks Lipovic, Three-Point Field Goals/Game (2.8)
91. Zach McMillan, Blocks/Game (1.4)
93. Adam Klie, Field Goal Percentage (54.3)
94. Drew Dyer, Three-Point Field Goals (28)
94. Aleks Lipovic, Three-Point Field Goals (28)

UC SAN DIEGO IN THE CCAA STAT RANKINGS
(through 12/29)
Team (league games, in top 3)
1. Field Goals (107)
1. Three-Point Field Goal Percentage (40.6)
2. Field Goal Percentage (50.0)
2. Rebounds/Game (39.5)

Individual (league games, in top 5)
3. Chris Hansen, Field Goal Percentage (70.8)
T-4. Aleks Lipovic, Three-Point Field Goals/Game (3.2)

DYER NAMED CCAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Drew Dyer was named the CCAA Player of the Week on Nov. 24. He shot 55 percent (12-22) from the field and drained eight of 13 three-pointers to lead UC San Diego to a pair of victories the week prior. In an 86-74 win against No. 10 Colorado School of Mines, Dyer finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, both game-highs. He was 4-for-6 from behind the arc. He then had 16 points and netted four treys as the Tritons defeated Winona State, 77-60. For the week, Dyer led UCSD in points (35), points/game (17.5), field goal percentage and three-pointers made and was tied for the team lead in rebounds (10) and rebounds/game (5.0).

TRITONS SIGN 6-7 FORWARD SCOTT EVERMAN
The UC San Diego men's basketball team received a commitment from six-foot-seven forward Scott Everman to play for the Tritons next season during the NCAA's early signing period. Currently a senior at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, Everman was named First Team All-Channel League and First Team All-City as a junior. He averaged 15 points and seven rebounds, leading the Royals to a 21-10 record. Everman earned MVP honors at the 2014 Jim Bashore Holiday Cage Classic.

WHAT DO THE COACHES THINK?
2015-16 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Chico State, 137 points (8 first-place votes)
2. Cal Poly Pomona, 124 (1)
3. UC San Diego, 121 (2)
4. Cal State San Bernardino, 116 (2)
5. Cal State San Marcos, 81
6. SF State, 80
7. Humboldt State, 74
8. Cal State L.A., 73
9. Cal State Monterey Bay, 63
10. Stanislaus State, 48
11. Cal State East Bay, 44
12. Sonoma State, 34
13. Cal State Dominguez Hills, 19

2014-15 AT A GLANCE
UC San Diego went 16-11 overall and 14-8 in the CCAA, placing fifth and earning a berth in the conference tournament. The 14 league victories were the most since the Tritons joined the CCAA for the 2000-01 season. In addition, the team's 16 wins were the most since its 2008-09 campaign. A six-game win streak in January equaled UCSD's longest since becoming an NCAA Division II team for the 2000-01 season. UC San Diego held opponents to 61.5 points/game, the sixth-best scoring defense in the country. The Tritons kept a tight grip on the basketball, turning it over just 291 times, the fourth-fewest giveaways in the country. At 10.8 turnovers/game, UCSD ranked 14th nationally.

HEAD COACH ERIC OLEN
Eric Olen is in his third season in charge of the UC San Diego men's basketball team. He holds a 31-22 (.585) overall record and a 25-19 (.568) CCAA mark through his first two campaigns. Olen had previously served nine seasons as a Triton assistant before being named the program's 12th head coach on Oct. 1, 2013. He joined the Tritons as a second assistant for the 2004-05 season and was promoted to first assistant the next year. Olen was on the bench during the 2007-08 campaign when UCSD won its first CCAA tournament title and earned its first berth in the NCAA Division II Championship. As a player at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., Olen helped the Badgers to three straight appearances in the NAIA National Tournament, including trips to the NAIA Elite Eight in 2000 and 2001.

ABOUT HUMBOLDT STATE
The Lumberjacks come into Friday's game at 9-1 overall and 3-1 in the CCAA, in a three-way tie for third place. Their lone loss came against Cal State San Marcos (79-84). In conference games, HSU leads the league in scoring (78.8) and three-pointers (47). Nationally, the 'Jacks rank seventh in three-pointers/game (11.2), 13th in scoring offense (90.5) and 14th in scoring margin (16.3). Rakim Brown is averaging a double-double with 20.8 points and 10.2 rebounds/game. He ranks 15th nationally in rebounding. Malik Morgan is dishing out 4.7 assists/game. Humboldt State leads the all-time series against UC San Diego, 15-7. UCSD has won four of the last six meetings.

ABOUT CAL POLY POMONA
Ranked fifth nationally, the Broncos enter the week at 11-0, one of just four undefeated teams in the country (Queens, West Liberty, Western Oregon). At 4-0 in the CCAA, they are tied with the Tritons for first place. CPP leads the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 57.9 points/game. It also ranks sixth in field goal percentage (51.6), 11th in scoring margin (17.1), 16th in turnover margin (4.8) and 19th in turnovers/game (10.7). Individually, Jordan Faison is 13th in field goal percentage (64.6). Faison is averaging a team-high 18.7 points and 6.8 rebounds. Jeremy Dennis is putting down 10.4 points/game. Cal Poly Pomona holds a commanding 26-9 advantage in the all-time series against UC San Diego. On Nov. 22, 2014, UCSD broke a 12-game losing skid against CPP with a 69-66 win in Pomona.

GEAR UP
For the latest in Triton athletic gear, make sure to visit UCSDtritonsgear.com. Run by UC San Diego Athletics' online partner Advanced-Online, the site provides an on-demand option for Triton Athletic apparel and merchandise. Fans have access to over 600 products which can be produced and shipped in 24 hours.

FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events and much more!

SOCIAL MEDIA - #TritonsRising
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UP NEXT
The Tritons hit the road for two straight weeks. They play at SF State on Jan. 7 and Cal State L.A. on Jan. 9. The following week, UCSD is at Cal State East Bay on Jan. 15 and Cal State Monterey Bay on Jan. 16. The next home game for the Tritons will be on Jan. 22, when they entertain Cal State Dominguez Hills on Spirit Night.

#TritonsRising