LA JOLLA, Calif. - Five Tritons scored in double figures as the 23rd-ranked University of California San Diego men's basketball team defeated league opponent Cal State LA, 79-69, Thursday night at RIMAC Arena.
UC San Diego improved to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). It is the team's best-ever start to a CCAA campaign, topping its 4-0 mark of last season.
Adam Klie and Christian Oshita scored 14 points apiece for UCSD. Chris Hansen finished with 13, Scott Everman had 12 and Aleks Lipovic netted 11. Klie grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, while he and Lipovic each dished out four assists.
The Tritons out-rebounded the Golden Eagles 37-24, which included a 12-6 advantage on the offensive glass. They made 19 of 21 free throws and shot 47.2 percent (25-53) from the floor.
Roderic Evans-Taylor led all players with 17 points for CSULA. Jordan Wilson and Travis Hammonds each had five rebounds.
The Eagles shot 50 percent (28-56) on the night.
UC San Diego led by just two points, 69-67, with 2:48 left in the game. However, the Tritons out-scored the Golden Eagles 10-2 to close it out. Kenny Fraser knocked down a three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to put UCSD up by 12 (79-67), its largest lead of the game.
Cal State LA held a 31-28 lead at halftime. A Klie layup at the 15:15 mark of the second half tied it at 38-38 and a Michael Shoemaker bucket at 14:26 gave the Tritons a 40-38 advantage and they stayed ahead the rest of the way.
The Golden Eagles made five of their eight three-pointers in the second half to keep it close.
Cal State LA fell to 6-7 on the year and 2-3 in conference play.
UCSD is one of two teams undefeated in CCAA action as 15th-ranked San Francisco State is 4-0.
UC San Diego concludes a six-game home stand Friday as its hosts Stanislaus State (4-7, 1-3 CCAA) at 7:30 p.m. The Warriors were edged at Cal State San Bernardino, 59-56, Thursday.
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