LA JOLLA, Calif. – With the NCAA-mandated four-year reclassification complete, UC San Diego begins its 2024-25 season, fully Big West and NCAA-championship eligible, on Wednesday night when the Tritons travel south to meet crosstown foe San Diego State.
Last season, the Tritons finished second in The Big West, posting a 21-11 regular season record (15-5 in conference play), culminating with their first Division I postseason berth – the No. 2 seed in the Ro College Basketball Invitational. UC San Diego dominated in Big West postseason awards, with five Tritons recognized.
The Aztecs appeared in the NCAA Sweet 16 last season, one year after reaching the national championship game. When these two teams met last season in LionTree Arena, SDSU needed a tip-in at the buzzer to eke out a one-point win.
Wednesday's lid-lifter tips at 7 p.m. from Viejas Arena in San Diego. There is no telecast, but KSDT – UC San Diego's student radio station – will have a live broadcast.
DETAILS
Game 1
UC San Diego (0-0) at San Diego State (0-0)
Wednesday, Nov. 6 | 7 p.m.
Viejas Arena (12,414) | San Diego
TV: [none]
Radio: KSDT
Listen |
Live Stats
Series Record: San Diego State leads, 13-0 (SDSU 3-0 in Division I)
Last Meeting: SDSU 63 at UCSD 62 (Dec. 1, 2023)
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 (2023-24)
| Stat |
UCSD |
Opp. |
| Points |
76.7 |
69.2 |
| Field Goal Pct. |
.456 |
.437 |
| 3-Point FG Pct. |
.354 |
.333 |
| Free Throw Pct. |
.759 |
.712 |
| Rebounds |
34.8 |
34.3 |
| Assists |
13.0 |
12.5 |
| Turnovers |
9.7 |
11.7 |
| Steals |
6.3 |
4.5 |
| Blocks |
2.8 |
3.6 |
ABOUT THE AZTECS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 0-0
Mountain West: 0-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: --
WHAT'S NEXT
UC San Diego's home opener is Saturday night when the Tritons host Pepperdine on Homecoming weekend at LionTree Arena. The first 3,000 fans in the building will receive a free whiteout t-shirt.
LAST TIME VS. THE AZTECS (Dec. 1, 2023) | Box Score
UC San Diego led for almost the entire game, but San Diego State's Jaedon LeDee grabbed an offensive rebound and converted a layup as time expired to propel the Aztecs to a 63-62 comeback victory over the host Tritons in front of a sellout crowd of 4,000 inside LionTree Arena.
San Diego natives
Bryce Pope and
Hayden Gray – along with
Francis Nwaokorie – all finished with 15 points to lead UC San Diego (4-4). As a team, the Tritons committed a season-low four turnovers. San Diego State (7-1) won its sixth consecutive contest.
OLEN IS BIG WEST COACH OF THE YEAR
After leading the Tritons to a second place finish in The Big West and more than doubling the team's win total from the prior season,
Eric Olen captured Big West Coach of the Year honors and was named a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award. Now in his 12th season as head coach, Olen has transformed the program. He is the program's all-time leader in victories.
In Division II, Olen led the Tritons to three California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular season titles, four consecutive CCAA tournament crowns over seven seasons. In Division II, he posted a .740 winning percentage, and he was named NABC West Region Coach of the Year for the first time in 2019-20 after leading the Tritons to a 30-1 record and the top seed in the NCAA West Region.
Olen's career coaching record stands at 210-114 (.648).
NIWA'S NOT A NEWCOMER ANYMORE!
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was named to the Big West Preseason Coaches' Team. Last year, captured Big West Newcomer of the Year honors – the first Triton to win this award. In his first year at UC San Diego, Tait-Jones was tenth in the conference in scoring at 15.2 points per game against Big West foes. The New Zealand native was remarkably efficient, connecting on 59% of his shot attempts over 20 Big West games. Tait-Jones was also named Honorable Mention All-Big West.
TY'S THE GUY
Tyler McGhie was named the conference's Best Sixth Player last year – the first UC San Diego scholar-athlete to win this Big West award. After making his season debut on Dec. 18, McGhie averaged 13.8 points per game in 28 minutes off the bench, tying for the top spot in the conference at three 3-pointers per game. The sharpshooter was second in The Big West in three-point field goal percentage at 40.7%. McGhie was also named Honorable Mention All-Big West.
BIG WEST POSTSEASON
The Tritons concluded the 2023-24 season with a 15-5 mark in conference play. Despite finishing second in The Big West standings last year, conference regulations prevented the Tritons from taking part in the eight-team Big West Championship. That won't be the case this year with UC San Diego fully eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
NEW-LOOK TRITONS
Seven newcomers have joined the Tritons' roster for the 2024-25 season: five transfers and two first-year scholar-athletes.
Chris Howell (Saint Mary's),
Nordin Kapic (Lynn),
Maximo Milovich (Biola),
Justin Rochelin (Oregon State) and
Milos Vicentic (McKendree) transferred to UC San Diego. First-year Tritons include
Christopher Cox (Salt Lake City) and
Ryder Elisaldez (Las Vegas).
A FINE CONNECTION
Three Tritons hail from San Diego: point guards
Hayden Gray (Santa Fe Christian) and
Camden McCormick (Francis W. Parker) along with guard
Chris Howell (Torrey Pines) are all from America's Finest City.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
UC San Diego thrived at LionTree Arena last year, boasting a 14-2 home record in La Jolla. The two setbacks were by a combined eight points.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
This year's Tritons squad boasts four scholar-athletes from foreign countries:
Nordin Kapic, Vienna, Austria
Maximo Milovich, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, New Zealand
Milos Vicentic, Belgrade, Serbia
NO SURPRISES: STARTING OFF STRONG
UC San Diego used the same starting lineup in each of its 33 games last year. The Tritons were the only Division I team to use the same starting five every time out. Two of last year's starters return:
Hayden Gray and
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones.
21 IN 24
Last season, UC San Diego won 21 games for the first time at the Division I level. The Tritons had five consecutive seasons of 20+ victories under head coach
Eric Olen in Division II from 2015-16 through 2019-20.
1,000-POINT SCORERS
Here are the program's top all-time scorers, including games played at other institutions:
| Name |
Years |
Games Played |
Points |
| Paul Trainer |
1971-75 |
104 |
1,930 |
| Matt Aune |
1993-97 |
100 |
1,780 |
| Mike Wall |
1995-99 |
100 |
1,700 |
| Bryce Pope |
2020-24 |
105 |
1,627 |
| Greg Kaminsky |
1983-87 |
104 |
1,588 |
| Tim Rapp |
1987-91 |
75 |
1,556 |
| Adam Klie |
2013-17 |
118 |
1,524 |
| Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones |
2020-pr. |
95 |
1,517 |
| Christian Oshita |
2016-20 |
100 |
1,505 |
| Chris Hansen |
2015-20 |
113 |
1,418 |
| Rick Batt |
1988-92 |
106 |
1,410 |
| Jordan Lawley |
2006-10 |
110 |
1,398 |
| James McCann |
2010-14 |
107 |
1,339 |
| Drew Dyer |
2012-16 |
108 |
1,333 |
| Tyler McGhie |
2020-pr. |
93 |
1,241 |
| Milos Vicentic |
2024-pr. |
73 |
1,226 |
| Clint Allard |
2004-08 |
112 |
1,150 |
| Francis Nwaokorie |
2021-24 |
91 |
1,088 |
| Nordin Kapic |
2024-pr. |
52 |
1,003 |
UC San Diego 30-Point Games, Division I
| Name |
Date |
Opponent |
Points |
Game Score |
| Toni Rocak |
Dec. 30, 2021 |
vs. UC Santa Barbara |
34 |
W, 85-83 (OT) |
| Bryce Pope |
Feb. 24, 2024 |
vs. UC Irvine |
32 |
W, 92-88 (OT) |
| Bryce Pope |
Nov. 22, 2022 |
at George Washington |
31 |
W, 75-70 |
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 |
| First Division I Road Win |
Nov. 9, 2021 at Cal |
| First Big West Road Win |
Feb. 3, 2022 at CSUN |
GAME DAY GOES DIGITAL
Triton fans can access game day information from their smart phones by visiting
UCSDTritons.com/MBBgameday or scanning the QR code at the entrance to LionTree 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+.
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, men's and women's water polo games, baseball and softball games are broadcast live on ESPN+. For more information on where to watch UC San Diego basketball, visit
UCSDTritons.com/live.
HOOPS TALK ON UC SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS' 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. New episodes of Tritoncast are available each week on the most popular podcasting apps. In addition, each episode can be heard and downloaded on UCSDTritons.com. For individual show information and listen links, follow Tritoncast on X
@Tritoncast.
MEN'S BASKETBALL ON TRITONCAST
| Episode |
Published |
Guest(s) |
Listen Link |
| 08 |
8/19/20 |
Adam Klie '17, program's D2 leading scorer |
Listen |
| 13 |
9/23/20 |
John Saintignon, impact of John Wooden |
Listen |
| 23 |
12/02/20 |
Jordan Lawley '10, NBA training center |
Listen |
| 30 |
1/20/21 |
Gabe Hadley '21, pro in Australia |
Listen |
| 67 |
11/02/22 |
Head Coach Eric Olen, season preview |
Listen |
| 74 |
2/22/23 |
Emmanuel Tshimanga, Canada hoops |
Listen |
| 84 |
8/30/23 |
J'Raan Brooks, Tritons in Italy |
Listen |
| 88 |
11/01/23 |
Head Coach Eric Olen, season preview |
Listen |
| 89 |
1/24/24 |
Bryce Pope, team's leading scorer |
Listen |
| 108 |
10/30/24 |
Head Coach Eric Olen, season preview |
Listen |
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 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 84 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.
