LA JOLLA, Calif. – It's a first-place battle in The Big West Saturday as UC San Diego hosts UC Irvine Saturday afternoon at LionTree Arena. Winners of seven of their last eight, the Anteaters (20-7, 13-2 BW) will look to stick atop the Big West standings with a win Saturday. One game back, the Tritons (18-9, 12-3) will try to keep rolling at home, a venue where they've won 12 of 13 this season.
When these two teams met last month in Irvine in a battle of then-unbeatens, the Anteaters handed UC San Diego a 76-65 setback. On Saturday, the Tritons will be searching for just their second Big West win over UCI, as well as what would be the program's first at LionTree Arena.
Saturday's game tips at 1 p.m. with live broadcasts on Spectrum SportsNet, ESPN+, and KSDT Radio. Live stats can be found on UCSDTritons.com. The first 750 UC San Diego students in attendance will receive a gold rally towel. Tickets can be purchased through
Triton Box Office.
DETAILS
Game 28
UC San Diego (18-9, 12-3 Big West) vs. UC Irvine (20-7, 13-2 Big West)
Saturday, February 24
1 p.m.
LionTree Arena (4,000), La Jolla
TV: Spectrum SportsNet
Radio: KSDT Radio
Watch |
Listen |
Live Stats
Series Record: UC Irvine leads 13-2 (UCI 6-1 in Division I)
Last Meeting: at UC Irvine 76, UC San Diego 65 (Jan. 18)
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 18-9
Big West: 12-3
Home: 12-1
Away: 6-7
Neutral: 0-1
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: W3
TRITONS, STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
| Stat |
UCSD |
Opp. |
| Points |
76.7 |
67.7 |
| Field Goal Pct. |
.459 |
.429 |
| 3-Point FG Pct. |
.351 |
.329 |
| Free Throw Pct. |
.755 |
.700 |
| Rebounds |
35.0 |
34.5 |
| Assists |
13.1 |
12.3 |
| Turnovers |
9.3 |
11.9 |
| Steals |
6.5 |
4.2 |
| Blocks |
2.9 |
3.5 |
ABOUT THE ANTEATERS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 20-7
Big West: 13-2
Home: 11-0
Away: 6-7
Neutral: 3-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 1-1
Streak: W2
WHAT'S NEXT
The Tritons hit the road next week for their final Big West road trip. UC San Diego will play at Cal State Bakersfield (Thurs., 7 p.m.) and CSUN (March 2, 5 p.m.). Both games will stream on ESPN+ with live stats on UCSDTritons.com.
LAST TIME OUT
UC San Diego junior
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones scored 20 points and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds as the Tritons downed host UC Riverside, 77-65, Thursday night in SRC Arena. The double-double was the third of the season for Tait-Jones.
The win gave the Tritons (18-9 overall, 12-3 Big West) a season sweep over the Highlanders for the first time. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for UC Riverside (12-16, 7-9).
Hayden Gray notched his first double-double as a Triton, with 16 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and six assists. Senior
J'Raan Brooks scored 13 and matched his career-high with three three-pointers, and
Francis Nwaokorie finished with 16 in the win.
LAST TIME VS. UC IRVINE (JAN. 18)
Three Tritons finished in double figures, but host UC Irvine rallied for a 76-65 victory in a battle of Big West unbeatens in front of 3,108 at Bren Events Center.
Junior
Francis Nwaokorie led the Tritons with 17 points and seven rebounds, but UC San Diego (11-7 overall, 5-1 Big West) shot just 32% after halftime as the team's season-best five-game win streak was snapped.
Andre Henry scored 18 for UC Irvine (13-5, 6-0) as the Anteaters moved into sole possession of first place atop The Big West standings. UC Irvine improved to 7-0 at home with the win.
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 27 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 |
1-3 |
0-0 |
4-5 |
W2 |
| 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 |
First |
| Scoring defense |
67.8 ppg |
Second |
| Scoring defense, BW games |
67.4 |
Third |
| Scoring margin |
9.0 |
Second |
| Scoring margin, BW games |
9.5 |
First |
| 3FG percentage |
35.1% |
Third |
| 3FG percentage, BW games |
35.7% |
First |
| 3FG per game |
9.0 |
First |
| 3FG per game, BW games |
8.8 |
First |
| FT percentage |
75.5% |
Second |
| Turnovers per game |
9.3 |
First |
| Turnovers per game, BW games |
8.4 |
First |
| Assist-Turnover ratio |
1.42 |
First |
| Assist-Turnover ratio, BW games |
1.52 |
First |
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
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. |
99 |
1,498 |
| Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones |
2020-pr. |
89 |
1,421 |
| 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. |
87 |
1,161 |
| Clint Allard |
2004-08 |
112 |
1,150 |
| Francis Nwaokorie |
2021-pr. |
85 |
1,026 |
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 207-111 (.651).
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.
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
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.
