LOS ANGELES - Chris Hansen recorded a double-double and five Tritons scored 10 or more points as the University of California San Diego men's basketball team won its fourth straight game Saturday, 86-84, at league rival Cal State LA.
UC San Diego improved to 19-5 overall and 14-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). CSULA fell to 13-13 and 8-9.
With under 10 minutes left in the game, the Tritons owned a 14-point lead at 66-52, their largest advantage of the night. However, the Golden Eagles went on a 31-18 run and trailed by a single point, 84-83, with six seconds remaining. Hansen made two crucial free throws to give his team a three-point cushion. UCSD fouled on LA's possession and the Eagles made one of two free throws before time expired.
The 86 points were a season high for UCSD and it was the third consecutive game that the Tritons scored over 80.
"It was good to get another win on the road tonight," said UCSD head coach Eric Olen, who's team won at Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday. "We made it closer than it had to be at the end, but ultimately got it done.
Hansen finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of his season. The sophomore center was 8-for-13 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free throw line. He also added a block and a steal in 29 minutes of play.
Adam Klie and Christian Oshita each had 15 points for the Tritons, while Aleks Lipovic had 12 and Scott Everman netted 10. Lipovic and Oshita each hit three three-pointers and Klie recorded five assists.
The bulk of Cal State LA's scoring was provided by Travis Hammonds and Jordan Wilson, who scored 31 and 28 points, respectively.
The Tritons shot 51.7 percent (30-58) overall and held the Golden Eagles to 38.2 percent (21-55).
UCSD has clinched a berth in the upcoming eight-team CCAA Tournament as well as a home quarterfinal on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
UC San Diego returns to La Jolla to host its final regular season games next week. The Tritons play Cal Poly Pomona on Friday, Feb. 17 and Humboldt State on Saturday, Feb. 18. Both games tip off at 7:30 p.m. and it will be Senior Night on Saturday.
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