LA JOLLA, Calif. – Four Tritons scored in double figures led by 20 from
Toni Rocak and 19 from
Bryce Pope as UC San Diego earned an 83-75 victory over the visiting CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners on Saturday night at RIMAC Arena.
UC San Diego improved to 9-11 (3-6 vs. Big West opponents) and snapped a six-game slide with the victory – the 175th in the coaching career of
Eric Olen.
CSU Bakersfield dropped to 6-9 with the loss (1-5 vs. Big West teams).
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego came out firing, building a 23-13 lead over the 'Runners with 12:15 left in the first half. The Tritons knocked down seven of their first eight shot attempts, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
UC San Diego extend its lead back to double digits with 3:56 left in the half, 38-27, following a 6-0 run by the Tritons.
The home team continued to shoot the ball well, taking a 43-32 lead into halftime. UC San Diego shot 61% (14-for-23) overall and hit 9-of-10 free throws.
Francis Nwaokorie scored 10 and
Jake Killingsworth added nine.
Jace Roquemore dished out six first half assists without committing a turnover.
In the second half, UC San Diego built a 15-point lead, 55-40, with 15:40 to play. Nwaokorie was fouled while shooting and the 'Runners were charged with a flagrant foul as well. The Triton freshman knocked down all four attempts, giving UC San Diego its biggest lead of the night to that point.
Trailing by 12 points midway through the second half, CSU Bakersfield used an 8-0 run to draw within four, 60-56, with still 8:22 to play.
The 'Runners drew to within a point, 67-66, but a big three-point play by Rocak kept the Tritons in front.
UC San Diego closed the game on an 18-8 run to seal the victory.
QUOTABLE
HIGHLIGHTS
TRITON TIDBITS
- UC San Diego's 43 first half points are the most the Tritons have scored in the first during Big West play.
- UC San Diego knocked down a season-high 27 free throws in the win.
- The contest was UC San Diego's fifth home game played without spectators (3-2 record in those games).
- Prior to Saturday night, the Roadrunners won 17 of the previous 18 meetings between the two programs including both match-ups last season in Bakersfield.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego begins the second half of its Big West schedule on Thursday, when the Tritons visit CSUN. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Northridge with a live broadcast on ESPN+.
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 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
