LA JOLLA, Calif. – Leo Beath scored a game-high 24 and five Tritons scored in double figures as UC San Diego rolled to a 105-73 victory over La Verne in the season opener Monday night inside LionTree Arena. Beath added six rebounds and three steals without committing a turnover in the win.
The Tritons never trailed, and had their way on the glass – holding a commanding 47-25 rebounding edge over the Leopards in the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons buried three quick three-pointers – two from junior
Aidan Burke – and UC San Diego ran out to an 11-0 lead over the Leopards just three minutes into the game. When junior
Cade Pendleton knocked down three at the 12:58 mark, the Tritons were 8-of-12 from the floor and led, 23-10.
The Triton lead was 11 when freshman
Jaden Vance came away with a steal. He found Burke who fed a cutting Beath and the junior threw it down to extend the lead back to 13 with five minutes left in the half.
Beath led all scorers with 12 first half points, and the Tritons led 47-30 at the half. Pendleton had six points and five boards for UC San Diego over the first period. The Tritons were buoyed by 16 second chance points and a 22-10 scoring advantage in the paint. The home team outrebounded La Verne, 31-12.
After halftime, La Verne played the Tritons even for a while, but UC San Diego eventually pulled away. Mayes was 4-4 from the floor in the second half including a steal and dunk with five minutes to go that sent the LionTree crowd to its feet.
Beath led all scorers with 24 on 9-of-14 shooting.
Tom Beattie added 15,
Alex Chaikin 13, Mayes 12, and
Bol Dengdit scored 10 and pulled down nine rebounds.
TRITON TIDBITS
- The Tritons scored 46 points in the paint, surrendering just 26.
- The UC San Diego starting lineup was Emanuel Prospere II, Aidan Burke, Tom Beattie, Leo Beath and Bol Dengdit.
- The Tritons improved to 4-2 in season openers as a Division I program.
- UC San Diego hit five of their eight three-point tries in the second half.
QUOTABLE
UP NEXT
UC San Diego welcomes Houston Christian to LionTree Arena Saturday night on Homecoming (7 p.m.). Prior to the game, the Tritons will raise their 2024-25 Big West Championship banner. Tickets can be purchased through the
Triton Box Office. The game will air on ESPN+ and KSDT, with live stats on UCSDTritons.com.
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 24-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 NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
