LA JOLLA, Calif. – University of California San Diego redshirt sophomore guard
Tyrell Roberts has been named the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men's Basketball Most Valuable Player and head coach
Eric Olen was tabbed Coach of the Year as the conference announced its annual awards on Thursday. In addition, senior forward
Christian Oshita joined Roberts on the All-CCAA First Team, and junior guard
Mikey Howell was named to the All-CCAA Second Team. Senior forward
Scott Everman and junior forward
Marek Sullivan garnered Honorable Mention recognition.
Tyrell Roberts led all CCAA players in scoring (18.9 points per game) three-point field goals per game 3.41), three-point field goal percentage (46.3%), and free throw percentage (87.3%) in league games. He was fourth in field goal percentage (46.8%) and assist-turnover ratio (2.0). Overall this season, Roberts leads the CCAA in scoring, averaging 18.4 points per game.
Roberts was twice named CCAA Player of the Week this season, and he established a new UC San Diego record for most three-point field goals in a season (currently at 97). He needs just 17 more points to become the fourth 1,000-point scorer on this year's roster.
Roberts is UC San Diego's third CCAA MVP in the last four seasons, joining
Chris Hansen (2019) and Adam Klie (2017). Last season, Roberts became the first Triton to be honored as the CCAA Newcomer of the Year.
In his seventh season as UC San Diego's head coach,
Eric Olen has earned CCAA Coach of the Year honors for the second time. He led this year's Tritons to a program record 28 victories – including a 21-1 mark during CCAA play. Earlier this season, Olen became only the second coach in UC San Diego program history to record 150 wins.
Senior captain
Christian Oshita joins Roberts as an All-CCAA First Team selection. Oshita finished second in the CCAA in scoring during conference play at 18.7 points per game and second in three-point field goals per game (3.37). The two-time CCAA Player of the Week has posted five double-doubles this season and has also surpassed the former school record for three-pointers in a season, currently at 94. He needs just 46 points to become UC San Diego's all-time leading scorer in its Division II history.
Oshita earns All-CCAA recognition for the third time in his career. He was a First Team selection as a junior in 2017-18, and a Second Team pick as a sophomore in 2016-17.
Junior
Mikey Howell is an All-CCAA Second Team selection in 2019-20. Howell led the CCAA in assists, averaging 6.5 per game against conference foes. His 2.7 assist-turnover ratio tied for second. For the season, Howell is averaging 7.1 assists per contest which leads the CCAA and ranks sixth nationally. Howell has registered 206 assists so far this season – already a UC San Diego single season record.
Senior
Scott Everman and junior
Marek Sullivan are both All-CCAA Honorable Mention. A starter in all 29 games, Everman has averaged 10.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, leading the team in blocked shots. He surpassed the 1,000-point plateau earlier this season. Sullivan has emerged as a real scoring threat for the Tritons and has joined the starting lineup for 20 of the team's last 21 games. He has averaged 8.6 points and six rebounds per game and has posted five double-doubles.
UC San Diego won its third straight CCAA regular season title this season and enters Friday's CCAA semifinal vs. Cal State East Bay riding a 20-game win streak. Friday's action tips off at 2:32 p.m. at RIMAC Arena, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
UC San Diego is the three-time defending CCAA Tournament champion, winning the title in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
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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