LA JOLLA, Calif. - Chris Hansen recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds to lead the University of California San Diego men's basketball team to a 62-55 season-opening win against Dixie State Friday in CCAA/PacWest Challenge action at RIMAC Arena.
UC San Diego (1-0) led the entire game. DSU (0-1) struggled to find the net early, not scoring its first field goal until eight minutes in. A three-pointer by Adam Klie with 6:56 remaining in the opening half put the Tritons up 30-11, the 19-point lead their largest of the night. UCSD led 41-28 at the break.
The Trailblazers rallied in the second half, out-scoring the Tritons 27-21. A Trevor Hill dunk with 1:55 left in the game got Dixie State back within three points at 58-55, but UC San Diego scored the final four points of the game.
The Tritons shot 36.1 percent (22-61) while the Trailblazers hit at just 27.6 percent (16-58). DSU was a fixture at the free throw line, going 22-for-32 as UCSD was charged with 27 personal fouls.
Hansen's 13 boards were a career-high. The sophomore center also added two assists and two blocks in 26 minutes of floor time. He was 5-for-13 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free throw line.
Klie, a senior guard, finished with a team-high 16 points while also contributing eight rebounds, four assists and a block. Sophomore guard Christian Oshita had 11 points in his first game for the Tritons after transfering from the University of San Diego. Junior guard George Buaku doled out a career-best six assists.
Hill ended his night with a game-high 18 points. Josh Fuller (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Quincy Mathews (10 points, 11 rebounds) each had double-doubles.
In Friday's early tournament game, Azusa Pacific (2-2) defeated Cal Poly Pomona (0-1) by a score of 73-60. Petar Kutlesic, Corey Langerveld and Joey Schreiber all had 18 points apiece for the Cougars.
Saturday, Cal Poly Pomona plays Dixie State at 5:30 p.m. and the tournament concludes with UC San Diego facing off against Azusa Pacific at 7:30 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the Tritons and Cougars since 1996.
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