LA JOLLA, Calif. – Sophomore guard
Tyrell Roberts scored a career-high 33 points and knocked down seven 3-pointers in 11 tries as fifth-ranked UC San Diego won its ninth straight game – an 87-59 decision over visiting Cal State San Bernardino.
UC San Diego is off to the best start in program history at 17-1 (11-1 California Collegiate Athletic Association). The second place Coyotes (14-4 overall, 9-3 CCAA) had their eight-game win streak snapped.
Roberts' 33-points were the fifth-most points in a game in UC San Diego's NCAA Division II history. Saturday marked the 15th game of 30-plus points by a Triton since the school began play in NCAA Division II in 2000-2001, and the second this season (
Christian Oshita scored 34, Nov. 22 at San Bernardino).
Roberts wasted no time getting going, knocking down a 3-pointer less than 10 seconds into the game. He scored 11 points over the first 5:20, as the Tritons ran out to a 14-3 advantage. He continued his hot shooting throughout the first half, scoring 24 of the team's first 33 points. In fact, with 7:46 to go, he had outscored the Coyotes, 24-16.
Roberts finished the first half with 30 points on 10-16 shooting, as the Tritons led 48-24 at the break. He connected on six-of-nine 3-point tries. As a team, the Tritons shot 55% in the first half, and drained eight 3's.
The Tritons continued to extend their lead early in the second half, building a 32-point advantage at 10:17. Roberts added three second half points before going to the bench for the last eight minutes of the contest.
Junior guard
Gabe Hadley drained 4 three-pointers off the bench and finished with 15 points. Senior
Connor Peterson finished with a season-high four rebounds in the win. Junior guard
Mikey Howell scored eight, grabbed six rebounds, and had six assists.
UC San Diego connected on 50% (15-30) of its three-point attempts. The Tritons dished out 18 assists on 28 made field goals.
No. 5 UC San Diego returns to the hardwood on Thursday night, when the Tritons visit San Francisco State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from San Francisco.
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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