ABOUT THE HIGHLANDERS
Roster | Schedule | Stats
Overall: 12-15
Big West: 7-8
Home: 9-3
Away: 2-12
Neutral: 1-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: W4
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Tritons return home to host first place UC Irvine on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on Spectrum SportsNet and streamed on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased through Triton Box Office.
 
LAST TIME OUT
UC San Diego claimed a competitive 76-69 victory over Cal State Fullerton Saturday evening at LionTree Arena. The Tritons (17-9 overall, 11-3 Big West) have won both matchups against the Titans for the second time since joining the Big West in 2020. 

First-year Triton Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones peppered in a team-leading 20 points, while also snagging 6 rebounds. Four other Tritons — Tyler McGhie, Hayden Gray, Francis Nwaokorie, and Bryce Pope — reached double figures, scoring 16, 15, 12, and 10, respectively. 

J'Raan Brooks led UC San Diego on defense, collecting seven defensive rebounds and a block.  Nwaokorie accompanied with three blocks and a steal. 

The loss was the fifth straight for Cal State Fullerton (11-15, 4-10).   
 
LAST TIME VS. UC RIVERSIDE (JAN. 25)
In a nail-biting matchup that came down to the final buzzer, UC San Diego came back from the brink to edge UC Riverside, 66-65, in front of 3,083 at LionTree Arena on Spirit Night.
 
Bryce Pope led the scoring with 15 points. He was followed by Hayden Gray, Francis Nwaokorie, Tyler McGhie, and Emmanuel Tshimanga, who all reached double-digits. Gray also led the team with six assists, and Nwaokorie's 11 rebounds gave him his sixth career double-double.
 
TENACIOUS ON D
UC San Diego allowed a season-low 46 points in the win over UC Santa Barbara (Feb. 15). The 46 points allowed marked the fewest the Tritons have ever surrendered in a Big West game, and the fewest allowed since an 75-39 win over Saint Katherine on Dec. 23, 2020.
 
STARTING OFF STRONG
UC San Diego has used the same starting lineup in each of its first 26 games. Wisconsin is the only other Division I program to utilize the same starting five in each game this season.
 
TRITONS VS. THE BIG WEST
Here's a look at how UC San Diego has stacked up against conference competition since joining The Big West prior to the 2020-21 season:
 

Opponent	Home	Road	Neutral	Total	Streak
Cal Poly	0-1	2-1	0-0	2-2	W2
Cal State Bakersfield	2-1	1-3	0-0	3-4	W1
Cal State Fullerton	4-1	1-1	0-0	5-2	W2
CSUN	3-0	2-0	0-0	5-0	W5
Hawai'i	1-2	0-3	0-0	1-5	L1
Long Beach State	1-2	1-2	0-0	2-4	L1
UC Davis	1-2	1-2	0-0	2-4	W1
UC Irvine	0-3	1-3	0-0	1-6	L1
UC Riverside	3-2	0-3	0-0	3-5	W1
UC Santa Barbara	2-1	1-4	0-0	3-5	W2

 
SECOND HALF SURGE
In UC San Diego's 92-59 win at UC Davis (Jan. 27), the Tritons outscored the Aggies 54-23 in the second half. Bryce Pope scored 22 after halftime (29 total) and UC San Diego sank ten three-pointers in the second half.
 
KNOCKING 'EM DOWN
When UC San Diego shot 60.4% in a win at Cal State Fullerton (Jan. 6), it marked the second time ever in a Big West game – and the first on the road – in which UC San Diego shot 60% or better from the floor against a conference foe. The Tritons also sank 67.9% of their shots in their first-ever win over a Division I opponent (vs. UC Davis, Jan. 21, 2021).
 
BIG WEST LEADERBOARD
Here's a look at where the Tritons rank in The Big West statistically:

Category	Stat	Rank
Scoring	76.7 ppg	Second
Scoring, Big West games	76.9	Second
Scoring defense	67.8 ppg	Second
Scoring defense, BW games	67.6	Third
Scoring margin	8.9	Second
Scoring margin, BW games	9.4	First
3FG percentage	35.4%	Third
3FG percentage, BW games	36.3%	First
3FG per game	9.0	First
3FG per game, BW games	8.9	First
FT percentage	75.3%	Second
Turnovers per game	9.2	First
Turnovers per game, BW games	8.1	First
Assist-Turnover ratio	1.44	First
Assist-Turnover ratio, BW games	1.57	First

 
POPE EARNS SECOND BIG WEST WEEKLY HONOR IN THREE WEEKS
For the second time in three weeks, Bryce Pope earned Big West Player of the Week honors on Jan. 29. With his team leading by two at halftime in a battle of first place teams at UC Davis, Pope took over in the second half Saturday. Pope scored 22 after halftime – nearly outscoring the Aggies (23 points) – as the Tritons earned a 92-59 win, the program's first Big West victory in Davis. Pope finished with 29 points, matching his season high, as the Tritons improved to 8-1 in conference action. For the week, Pope averaged 22 points on 47% shooting with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and only one turnover in a pair of UC San Diego victories.
 
AWARD WINNERS
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, Big West Player of the Week, Nov. 13
Bryce Pope, UCU Athlete of the Week, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, Jan. 2, Jan. 8, Jan. 29
Tyler McGhie, UCU Athlete of the Week, Dec. 26
Bryce Pope, Big West Player of the Week, Jan. 15, Jan. 29
Francis Nwaokorie, UCU Athlete of the Week, Jan. 15
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, UCU Athlete of the Week, Feb. 12
 
TY'S THE GUY
In his UC San Diego debut, Tyler McGhie scored 22 points and knocked down six three-pointers in the Tritons' win at Sacramento State (Dec. 18). The six made three-pointers are the most by a Triton in a game so far this season. McGhie also hit six from distance in the win at UC Davis (Jan. 27) and in the triumph over CSUN (Feb. 1).
 
TAIT-JONES DELIVERS STRONG DEBUT
Newcomer Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was voted Big West Men's Basketball Player of the Week as announced by the conference office on Nov. 13. Playing his first two games as a Triton, the junior transfer finished one assist shy over a triple-double in UC San Diego's opener, then followed that up with a 21-point night in a win over USD.
 
1,000-POINT SCORERS
In the Tritons' win at Cal State Fullerton (Jan. 6), Tyler McGhie became the latest UC San Diego player to score 1,000 career points. Here are the program's top all-time scorers:
 
UC San Diego All-Time Scoring Leaders (includes 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
Greg Kaminsky	1983-87	104	1,588
Tim Rapp	1987-91	75	1,556
Adam Klie	2013-17	118	1,524
Christian Oshita	2016-20	100	1,505
Bryce Pope	2020-pr.	98	1,492
Chris Hansen	2015-20	113	1,418
Rick Batt	1988-92	106	1,410
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones	2020-pr.	88	1,401
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.	86	1,156
Clint Allard	2004-08	112	1,150
Francis Nwaokorie	2021-pr.	84	1,012

 
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	Nov. 22, 2022	at George Washington	31	W, 75-70

 
HEAD COACH ERIC OLEN
When UC San Diego won at Cal Poly (Jan. 13), the victory marked the 200th in the career of Triton head coach Eric Olen. In his 11th 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 206-111 (.650).
 
10 EARN SPOT ON BIG WEST ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL
Ten Tritons earned spots on the Big West Academic Honor Roll following last season. Five captured Highest Honors (grade point average of 3.51-4.00): J'Raan Brooks, Justin DeGraaf, Jake Kosakowski, Quin Patterson, and Jace Roquemore. Two more were recognized With Honors (3.21-3.50 GPA): Michael Pearson Jr. and Emmanuel Tshimanga, and three Tritons garnered Honor Roll (3.00-3.20 GPA) recognition: Francis Nwaokorie, Bryce Pope, and Vuk Vulikic.
 
FOUR NAMED TO NABC HONORS COURT FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Four UC San Diego men's basketball scholar-athletes were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court for excelling in the classroom. J'Raan Brooks, Jake Kosakowski, Jace Roquemore and Emmanuel Tshimanga represent the Tritons on this year's Honors Court. UC San Diego is also a recipient of the 2022-23 NABC Team Academic Excellence Award.
 
The NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards recognize men's basketball programs that completed the 2022-23 academic year with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. The NABC Honors Court, meanwhile, includes junior, senior and graduate student men's basketball players who finished the 2022-23 year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
 
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

 
HADLEY INKS DEAL WITH BRISBANE BULLETS OF AUSTRALIA'S NBL
Former Triton Gabe Hadley signed to play for the Brisbane Bullets of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL). First tipping off in 1979, the NBL is the highest level of pro ball in Australasia, with nine teams in Australia and one in New Zealand. Hadley, 25, averaged 24.7 points per game playing for Geelong United of the NBL1 this season.

As a Triton, Hadley averaged more than 12 points, three rebounds and two assists per game as a senior, starting every contest during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. The All-Triton Scholar-Athlete Team selection may be best remembered for hitting a fadeaway three-pointer with seconds remaining to send a game against UC Riverside to overtime. Then, in the extra session, he drained the game-winning three-pointer in the final moments.

Hadley has played professionally in his native Australia since graduating from UC San Diego in 2021.
 
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.
 
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 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+.


COVERING THE TRITONS
Media members wishing to cover a UC San Diego game in-person at LionTree Arena must notify a member of the Athletics Communications staff no later than 24 hours prior to the game.

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 final year of a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of The Big West for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
 
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 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

 
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.