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UC San Diego

Mikey Howell

Men's Basketball

Tritons Hit the Hardwood in Tune-Up for Big West Play

UC San Diego's season to begin Sunday afternoon at RIMAC Arena

LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC San Diego men's basketball team begins a new era as the transition to NCAA Division I is officially underway. With Big West Conference play set to begin on Jan. 1, the Tritons will host a trio of preseason games as they prepare to begin Big West play for the first time. UC San Diego welcomes NAIA members San Diego Christian College and University of Saint Katherine to RIMAC Arena beginning Sunday. The Tritons take on the SDCC Hawks on Dec. 20 before battling the Saint Katherine Firebirds on Dec. 22 and 23.
 
DETAILS
Game 1
San Diego Christian (0-5) at UC San Diego (0-0)
Sunday, December 20
4:02 p.m.
RIMAC Arena, La Jolla
Live video | Live Stats
Series Record: SDCC leads, 13-12
Last Meeting: UC San Diego 64, San Diego Christian 49 (12/22/09, RIMAC Arena)
 
Game 2
Saint Katherine (1-0) at UC San Diego (0-0)
Tuesday, December 22
6:02 p.m.
RIMAC Arena, La Jolla
Live video | Live Stats
Series Record: UC San Diego leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: UC San Diego 95, Saint Katherine 71 (11/27/13, RIMAC Arena)
 
Game 3
Saint Katherine (1-0) at UC San Diego (0-0)
Wednesday, December 23
4:02 p.m.
RIMAC Arena, La Jolla
Live video | Live Stats
Series Record: UC San Diego leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: UC San Diego 95, Saint Katherine 71 (11/27/13, RIMAC Arena)

UC SAN DIEGO AND COVID-19
UC San Diego's nationally renowned Return to Learn program was created to return to in-person teaching, learning, conducting pioneering research and serving our communities in the safest way possible. The program has three adaptive pillars that are central to our strategy to resume on-campus activity: risk mitigation, viral detection, and intervention.

For the latest information on UC San Diego and COVID-19, please visit the University's Return to Learn site.

ATTENDING THE GAMES
Per the current COVID-19 guidelines set by the state of California, the County of San Diego and the Big West Conference, fans are not permitted to attend home games in RIMAC Arena. For more information on UC San Diego ticket policies, visit UCSDTritons.com/tickets.
 
COVERING THE TRITONS
Media members wishing to cover a UC San Diego game in-person at RIMAC Arena this season must request access from a member of the Athletics Communications staff no later than 10 a.m. on gameday. All media members will need to complete a UC San Diego symptom screening form on the day of game prior to arriving on campus. All media will enter through the RIMAC Arena lobby adjacent to the Ticket Office on the northwest corner of the building. No floor access will be permitted at any time.
 
Following the conclusion of each game, a video highlight melt and video postgame interviews will be made available for all media members to download.

ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO
Roster | Schedule | Stats
Overall: 0-0
Big West: 0-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Wearing Blue Uniforms: 0-0
Wearing White Uniforms: 0-0
When Leading at Half: 0-0
When Tied at Half: 0-0
When Trailing at Half: 0-0
Overtime Games: 0-0
Streak: --
 
ABOUT SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN
Roster | Schedule | Stats
Overall: 0-5
GSAC: 0-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-4
Neutral: 0-1
Streak: L5
 
ABOUT SAINT KATHERINE
Roster | Schedule | Stats
Overall: 1-0
GSAC: 0-0
Home: 1-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Streak: W1
 
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire athletics program has begun a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of the Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
 
COUNTING THE DAYS
It's been 288 days since the Tritons last played a game. On that night, UC San Diego won its fourth straight CCAA Tournament title at RIMAC Arena. The Tritons beat Cal Poly Pomona, 76-62, in the conference title game March 7 at RIMAC Arena. That marked the third straight season in which the Tritons beat the Broncos for the conference tournament crown, and it was UC San Diego's fourth consecutive CCAA tournament championship. Unbeknownst at the time, March 7 also marked the Tritons' final Division II game.
 
ABOUT THOSE STANDINGS…
As UC San Diego begins its NCAA-mandated four-year reclassification to Division I, the Tritons are not eligible to compete in Big West or NCAA postseason events. As such, the Conference will not include UC San Diego in its men's basketball standings and the Tritons will not appear in the preseason poll. However, UC San Diego will play a full slate of Big West games each year and be eligible for individual Big West honors (e.g., All-Conference Team, Player of the Year, etc.).
 

OPTING OUT
Three Tritons have opted out of participation this season due to COVID-19. Senior forward Marek Sullivan, redshirt junior guard Tyrell Roberts, and redshirt sophomore guard John Diener will all sit out the 2020-21 season.
 
TRITONS INK FIVE FOR CLASS OF '25
The UC San Diego men's basketball program has announced that five high school standout scholar-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the team as freshmen for the 2021-22 academic year. Cameron Brimhall, Fallou Cisse, Justin DeGraaf, Francis Nwaokorie, and Michael Pearson have committed to join the Tritons to make up the Class of 2025.
 
ROQUEMORE FEATURED IN UC SAN DIEGO CA NOTIFY VIDEO
UC San Diego redshirt freshman Jace Roquemore stars in a video promoting the use of the CA Notify app on campus. CA Notify uses the Exposure Notifications System from Google and Apple to alert users when they have been exposed to COVID-19. It will quickly notify the user if they have likely been exposed, allowing them to seek medical attention and reduce risk for their loved ones. First launched on the UC San Diego campus, the CA Notify app is now available to all California residents.
 
TRITONS SIGN NCAA UNITY PLEDGE
UC San Diego scholar-athletes have signed the NCAA's Unity Pledge, a symbolic gesture to continue generating stronger unity among the NCAA's 1,100-plus schools and nearly 500,000 student-athletes. The pledge's logo includes three different colored hands holding one another's wrists inside a circle with "United As One" at the bottom.
 
ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE
The Tritons wrapped up the 2019-20 season winning their final 22 games, the program's longest winning streak in its NCAA Division II era (2000-01 to 2019-20).
 
RE-WRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
At 30-1, last year's Tritons enjoyed the best season in program history. UC San Diego won its first eight games of the season, marking the program's longest winning streak to start a season joining NCAA Division II for the 2000-01 season. The program's first men's basketball season was played in 1965-66.
 
PAIR OF TRITONS SIGN PRO CONTRACTS
Recent grads Chris Hansen and Christian Oshita both signed contracts to play overseas. In July, Hansen inked a deal with BK Inter Bratislava in Slovakia. In September, Oshita signed with Team Ehingen Urspring in Germany. Hansen and Oshita ranked first and second all-time in rebounding at UC San Diego during the Division II era. The duo also finished in the top three in career scoring as well.
 
DISHING OUT A NEW RECORD
Mikey Howell established a new UC San Diego single season record for assists last year, surpassing Bob Goodman '83. Howell ranked sixth nationally in assists at 6.9 per game. Howell posted a career-high 12 assists three times on three occasions last season.
 
UC San Diego Single Season Assist Leaders
Mikey Howell 2019-20 215
Bob Goodman 1982-83 188
 
OLEN EARNS SECOND COACH OF THE YEAR NOD IN FINAL D2 SEASON
Tritons' head coach Eric Olen was voted CCAA Coach of the Year last year for the second time in his career after leading UC San Diego to a 21-1 record in conference play. He became the second coach in program history to win 150 career games. He has posted a 159-56 record and a .740 winning percentage in 215 games as UC San Diego's head coach. Olen has led the Tritons to first place conference finishes three times in the last four seasons and was also named CCAA Coach of the Year in 2016-17.
 
Coaching Victories – UC San Diego History
Tom Marshall 1983-1994 185
Eric Olen 2013-present 159
Greg Lanthier 1999-2004 111
 
REGISTRATION COMPLETE
The entire UC San Diego men's basketball team completed its voter registration as part of a larger initiative to register all Triton scholar-athletes to vote. In all, more than 90% of eligible UC San Diego scholar-athletes registered to vote in November's election.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
UC San Diego begins Big West Conference play for the first time on Friday, Jan. 1, when the Tritons travel north to take on the Cal Poly Mustangs in San Luis Obispo. The Big West Conference has modified its schedule this season, and teams will play the same opponent in back-to-back games. UC San Diego will visit Cal Poly on Jan. 1 and 2, with both games set to tip at 4 p.m.
 
UC SAN DIEGO ON THE WORLDWIDE LEADER
Most UC San Diego home men's and women's basketball games and men's and women's volleyball matches are broadcast live on ESPN3. For more information on where to watch UC San Diego basketball, visit UCSDTritons.com/live.
 
UC SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS LAUNCHES WEEKLY PODCAST
As part of UC San Diego's transition to Division I, the Athletics Department launched a weekly podcast, Tritoncast. Produced by UC San Diego Athletics Communications, Tritoncast features in-depth interviews with UC San Diego personalities including scholar-athletes, alums, coaches, and administrators. Triton fans will get an inside look at the UC San Diego Athletics Department as the program transitions to NCAA Division I and the Big West Conference. New episodes of Tritoncast are available each week on the most popular podcasting apps, including Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn. In addition, each episode can be heard and downloaded on UCSDTritons.com. For individual show information and listen links, follow Tritoncast on Twitter @Tritoncast.
 
GET SOCIAL WITH UC SAN DIEGO HOOPS
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The team's handle is @ucsdmbb.
 
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
 
GEAR
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritons here.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Chris Hansen

#44 Chris Hansen

C
6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Christian Oshita

#14 Christian Oshita

G/F
6' 6"
Redshirt Senior
John Diener

#24 John Diener

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
Mikey Howell

#32 Mikey Howell

G
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Jace Roquemore

#22 Jace Roquemore

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
Marek Sullivan

#5 Marek Sullivan

F
6' 6"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Chris Hansen

#44 Chris Hansen

6' 7"
Redshirt Senior
C
Christian Oshita

#14 Christian Oshita

6' 6"
Redshirt Senior
G/F
John Diener

#24 John Diener

6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Mikey Howell

#32 Mikey Howell

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
G
Jace Roquemore

#22 Jace Roquemore

6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
G
Marek Sullivan

#5 Marek Sullivan

6' 6"
Senior
F

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