ARCATA, Calif. – Sophomore guard Tyrell Roberts scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the sixth-ranked UC San Diego men's basketball team downed Humboldt State by an 86-70 score at Lumberjack Arena on Saturday night. The Tritons have won seven straight and are off to the best start in program history at 15-1 (9-1 CCAA).

"Ty was really good for us all night," said UC San Diego head coach Eric Olen. "Especially when they made that run [early in the second half], he stepped up and made plays as we've become accustomed to."

Senior forward Scott Everman helped the Tritons get off to a great start, as he knocked down an early 3-pointer and threw down a pair of two-handed dunks as the visitors grabbed an early 18-7 advantage.
 
An 8-2 UC San Diego run later in the first period helped the Tritons build a 35-20 lead with 6:24 in the half. Overall, UC San Diego shot a blistering 62% in the first half and connected on 6-of-12 3-point tries. The Tritons registered six first half assists while committing only one turnover.

Roberts was the Tritons' leading scorer over the first 20 minutes with 12 points and five first half rebounds. Senior forward Christian Oshita added 10, and Everman scored nine.
 
The Lumberjacks (6-9 overall, 2-8 CCAA) made some halftime adjustments and came out firing in the second half. Humboldt State opened the frame on a 14-2 run over the first 6:15 to cut the Tritons' lead to two, 48-46, with 13:45 left.
 
From there, Roberts took matters into his own hands, converting a layup, a jumper, and a three to put UC San Diego back up by nine, 55-46, with 11:39 left. Oshita, Everman, and junior forward Marek Sullivan all converted on 3-pointers as the Tritons extended their lead.
 
The Lumberjacks got no closer than 12 from that point, as the Tritons closed out their seventh straight victory.

"We've got a veteran group who's very poised and that showed tonight," Olen added. "Even when they drew close to start the second half, we remained confident and didn't get rattled."
 
Roberts had a memorable night for UC San Diego, finishing with 27 points, eight rebounds, and 10 field goals – all one short of his career-high. Oshita scored 20 and added six boards, and Sullivan contributed 12 points and eight caroms. Everman finished with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
 
As a team, the Tritons shot 56.6% (30-53) overall – the eighth time this season they have shot 50% or better from the floor. Now 8-0 on the road, UC San Diego was 10-of-23 (43.5%) from beyond the arc and 16-for-18 (88.9%) from the free throw line. Although credited with only nine assists, the Tritons committed just seven turnovers on the night.

UC San Diego returns to RIMAC Arena on Thursday night, when the Tritons host Cal Poly Pomona on Spirit Night. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:02 p.m. from La Jolla, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country.  The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in summer 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  In competition, more than 1,300 UC San Diego student-athletes have earned All-America honors.

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