LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC San Diego men's basketball team begins its second season competing in NCAA Division I on Tuesday, when the Tritons travel to Berkeley to face Cal. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT and the contest will air live on Pac-12 Network.
The Tritons and Golden Bears have not met on the hardwood since the 1985-86 season. UC San Diego was a member of NCAA Division III at that time.
DETAILS
Game 1
UC San Diego (0-0, 0-0 Big West) at Cal (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
Tuesday, November 9
2 p.m.
Haas Pavilion, Berkeley
Watch on Pac-12 Network |
Live Stats
Series Record: Cal leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: Cal 88, UC San Diego 46 (1985)
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 0-0
Big West: 0-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: --
TRITONS, STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
| Stat (2020-21) |
UCSD |
Opp. |
| Points |
69.3 |
70.9 |
| Field Goal Pct. |
.445 |
.453 |
| 3-Point FG Pct. |
.362 |
.347 |
| Free Throw Pct. |
.663 |
.698 |
| Rebounds |
29.7 |
37.8 |
| Assists |
16.5 |
15.5 |
| Turnovers |
13.8 |
14.1 |
| Steals |
6.3 |
7.2 |
| Blocks |
2.2 |
2.7 |
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 0-0
Pac-12: 0-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: --
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 permitted to attend home games at RIMAC Arena. However,
all fans ages three and older are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours of game time. All fans must wear a mask which covers their nose and mouth at all times. For more information,
click here.
TRITON BOX OFFICE
Single game tickets to UC San Diego basketball home games are now on-sale. For more information or to purchase,
click here. Currently enrolled UC San Diego students are provided free admission by showing a valid campus ID at the arena entrance.
GAME DAY HAS A NEW LOOK
Triton fans now have a whole new way to access game day information, as game programs have gone digital! Fans can visit
UCSDTritons.com/MBBgameday from their smart phone or scan the QR code at the entrance to RIMAC Arena for everything they need to know about each home game, including updated rosters, schedules, and stats for each team, as well as links to watch on ESPN+.
COVERING THE TRITONS
Media members wishing to cover a UC San Diego game in-person at RIMAC Arena must notify a member of the Athletics Communication staff no later than 24 hours prior to the game. All media members will need to complete a UC San Diego symptom screening form on the day of game prior to arriving on campus.
Following the conclusion of each home game, a video highlight melt and video postgame interviews will be made available for media members to download.
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire athletics program is in its second year of 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.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returners
Matt Gray, Jr., F
Jake Killingsworth, Gr., G
Jake Kosakowski, So., F
Bryce Pope, So., G
Justin Pratt, Jr., G
Kaden Rasheed, Sr., G
Toni Rocak, Sr., F
Jace Roquemore, So., G
Lunden Taylor, Jr., G
Newcomers
J'Raan Brooks, Jr., F (Washington)
Fallou Cisse, Fr., F
Justin DeGraaf, Fr., F
Francis Nwaokorie, Fr., F
Michael Pearson Jr., Fr., G
Vuk Vulikic, So., G (UTEP)
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
This year's Tritons squad boasts scholar-athletes from four countries:
Fallou Cisse, Senegal
Matt Gray, Australia
Toni Rocak, Croatia
Vuk Vulikic, Serbia
ROCAK PLAYS FOR SWISS NATIONAL TEAM
A native of Croatia who was raised in Switzerland,
Toni Rocak competed for the
Swiss National Team over the summer in World Cup qualifiers.
SHARP SHOOTERS
UC San Diego led the NCAA in three-point field goals per game (11.1) last season. The Tritons drained a Big West single-game record 22 in a win over Bethesda (Feb. 7).
Jake Killingsworth is the Tritons' top returning three-point shooter, averaging two per game last season on 41% shooting from beyond the arc.
DIVISION I FIRSTS
| First Season |
2020-21 |
| First Game |
Dec. 22, 2020 vs. Saint Katherine |
| First Win over Division I Opponent |
Jan. 22, 2021 vs. UC Davis |
| First Basket vs. D1 Opponent |
Jace Roquemore (1/8/21) vs. UC Irvine |
REPLACING THE DISTRIBUTION
UC San Diego graduated its all-time assist leader following last season.
Mikey Howell averaged six assists per game last year (tops in the Big West) and finished his career with 502 assists – more than any Triton in program history.
HADLEY SUITS UP IN AUSTRALIA
UC San Diego guard
Gabe Hadley '21 signed a professional contract with the Geelong Supercats in Australia's NBL1 in the spring. As part of the NBL1 South Conference, the Supercats are one of the 18 highly-competitive teams throughout the Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and South Australia areas.
Hadley is one of three former Tritons to ink pro deals in the last two years. Following the memorable 2019-20 season, both Chris Hansen (Solvakia) and Christian Oshita (Germany) signed pro contracts.
ABOUT THOSE STANDINGS…
In their second year of its NCAA-mandated four-year reclassification to Division I, the Tritons are not eligible to compete in NCAA postseason events. As such, the Big West has elected not include UC San Diego in its men's basketball standings and the Tritons did not appear in the preseason poll. However, UC San Diego will play a full slate of Big West games and be eligible for individual Big West honors (e.g., All-Conference Team, Player of the Year, etc.).
WHY THE TRITONS
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.
ROQUEMORE FEATURED IN UC SAN DIEGO CA NOTIFY VIDEO
UC San Diego redshirt sophomore
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 available to all California residents.
WHAT'S NEXT
UC San Diego opens its home slate on Saturday when the Tritons host George Washington at RIMAC Arena in a 7 p.m. contest on ESPN+.
WELCOME BACK TO RIMAC!
When the Tritons host the Colonials on Saturday, it will mark UC San Diego's first home game with fans in attendance since the Tritons won the CCAA (Division II) conference championship on March 7, 2020 – some 617 days ago.
UC SAN DIEGO ON THE WORLDWIDE LEADER
Most UC San Diego home men's and women's basketball games, men's and women's soccer matches, men's and women's volleyball matches, baseball and softball games are broadcast live on ESPN+. For more information on where to watch UC San Diego soccer, 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 Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Audible, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and Vurbl. 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,
click 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 38 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.
