LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego returns to the road for yet another split week, as the Tritons visit Cal State Bakersfield Thursday before returning home to host UC Davis. UC San Diego (20-4, 10-2) enters Thursday's action tied for first in The Big West after an 18-point win at UC Irvine last time out. The win also gave the Tritons their 20th of the season – the program's second consecutive 20-win campaign. The Roadrunners (10-15, 4-9) sit eighth in the conference standings (the top eight qualify for the postseason tournament next month), having dropped five straight. Seven of Cal State Bakersfield's 10 wins have come at home.
When these two teams met in December,
Nordin Kapic scored a season-best 25 points as the Tritons improved to 2-0 in Big West play with an 81-60 victory at LionTree Arena. Kapic was 7-for-8 from three-point distance in the win – the sixth straight for UC San Diego.
Hayden Gray added 11 and
Aidan Burke and
Tyler McGhie each chipped in nine in the win.
Since joining The Big West, the Tritons have only won once at Icardo Center. Thursday's game tips at 6:30 p.m. and will air live on ESPN+ with live stats available on UCSDTritons.com.
DETAILS
Game 25
UC San Diego (20-4, 10-2 Big West) at Cal State Bakersfield (10-15, 4-9 Big West)
Thursday, Feb. 13 | 6:30 p.m.
Icardo Center (3,497) | Bakersfield
TV:
ESPN+
Radio: [none]
Live Stats:
UCSDTritons.com
Series Record: CSUB leads, 20-5 (CSUB 5-4 in Division I)
Last Meeting: at UC San Diego 81, Cal State Bakersfield 60 (Dec. 7)
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 20-4
Big West: 10-2
Home: 9-2
Away: 8-2
Neutral: 3-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: W5
TRITONS, STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
| Stat |
UCSD |
Opp. |
| Points |
80.5 |
63.0 |
| Field Goal Pct. |
.464 |
.411 |
| 3-Point FG Pct. |
.357 |
.352 |
| Free Throw Pct. |
.761 |
.724 |
| Rebounds |
34.2 |
33.3 |
| Assists |
15.3 |
11.2 |
| Turnovers |
9.4 |
16.6 |
| Steals |
10.6 |
4.9 |
| Blocks |
2.1 |
3.0 |
ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 10-15
Big West: 4-9
Home: 7-4
Away: 2-10
Neutral: 1-1
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: L5
WHAT'S NEXT
UC San Diego returns to LionTree Arena to face UC Davis for the first time on Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through
Triton Box Office. Saturday's contest will also be broadcast on ESPN+ and KSDT with live stats available on UCSDTritons.com.
LAST TIME OUT: TRITONS 85, UC IRVINE 67 | Box Score
Chris Howell scored a career-high 15 points on five made three-pointers, and the Tritons sank 16 from distance on the way to a convincing 85-67 victory over UC Irvine in front of a sellout crowd at Bren Events Center and a national television audience on Saturday night. Four Tritons finished in double figures and the team won its fifth game in a row – moving the Tritons (20-4, 10-2 Big West) into a first-place tie with the Anteaters (20-4, 10-2). Senior
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones scored 22, grabbed eight rebounds, and had eight assists in the win.
UC San Diego's 16 made three-pointers marked a season high over a Division I opponent. The Tritons were 16-31 (52%) from distance – including 13-of-20 after halftime. UC Irvine had won 22 straight at home prior to Saturday's setback, formerly the longest active home win streak in Division I.
NATIONALLY RANKED
UC San Diego is ranked No. 4 in this week's Mid-Major Top 25® college basketball poll, the Tritons' highest-ever ranking in this survey. UC San Diego also received a first place vote. Now in its 26th season, the Mid-Major Top 25® is voted on by 31 Division I coaches. The poll is announced every Monday.
NOTHIN' BUT NET
UC San Diego has an NCAA NET Ranking of 49 as of Tuesday, Feb. 11, highest in The Big West.
MARGIN OF VICTORY
UC San Diego ranks second in Division I with a turnover margin of +7.2. The Tritons have won the turnover battle in 23 of their first 24 games.
MARGIN OF VICTORY II
The Tritons are tops in The Big West with a scoring margin of 17.5. Nationally, UC San Diego's margin of victory sits third.
STINGY ON D
UC San Diego leads The Big West in scoring defense, allowing just 63.0 points per game for the season and 64.3 points per game in Big West play. Nationally, the 63.0 points per game allowed is 12th best.
TAIT-JONES TAKES CONTROL
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was named Big West Player of the Week twice in the last three weeks, and he earned Lou Henson National Player of the Week honorson Jan. 27. Tait-Jones leads the nation in free throws made (169) and free throw attempts (209). He ranks second in The Big West in scoring at 20.0 points per game. The New Zealand native was named to the Big West Preseason Coaches' Team. Last year, Tait-Jones captured Big West Newcomer of the Year honors – the first Triton to win this award – and he was also named Honorable Mention All-Big West.
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) |
| Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones |
Jan. 25, 2025 |
vs. CSUN |
32 |
W, 79-54 |
| Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones |
Jan. 18, 2025 |
at UC Riverside |
32 |
L, 85-81 |
| 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 |
WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, Lou Henson National Player of the Week, Jan. 27
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, Big West Player of the Week, Jan. 27, Feb. 10
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, UCU Athlete of the Week, Dec. 16, Jan. 6, Jan. 20, Feb. 10
Tyler McGhie, Lou Henson National Player of the Week, Dec. 23
Tyler McGhie, Big West Player of the Week, Nov. 25, Dec. 23
Tyler McGhie, UCU Athlete of the Week, Nov. 11, Nov. 25, Dec. 23
Justin Rochelin, UCU Athlete of the Week, Dec. 2
Nordin Kapic, UCU Athlete of the Week, Dec. 9, Dec. 30
TY'S THE GUY
Tyler McGhie has made 81 three-pointers this season, sixth in Division I. His 3.4 threes per game is tops in The Big West and ranks sixth nationally. McGhie captured conference Player of the Week honors on Dec. 23 and Nov. 25. Last year, McGhie was named the conference's Best Sixth Player and captured Honorable Mention All-Big West recognition.
I'LL TAKE THAT!
Triton senior point guard
Hayden Gray leads the nation with 85 steals and 3.54 steals per game. Gray came away with a career-high seven thefts in the Tritons' win at USD (Dec. 21) and matched that total in a victory over UC Riverside (Feb. 6).
THIEVERY!
UC San Diego is one of three Division I programs to have two players averaging 2.0+ steals per game (Mississippi State and UTEP).
Hayden Gray (3.5) and
Chris Howell (2.1) lead the way for the Tritons.
HEAD COACH ERIC OLEN
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 230-118 (.661).
NO SURPRISES: STARTING OFF STRONG
UC San Diego has used the same starting lineup in each of its first 24 games this season – one of four Division I teams to use the same starters every night. Last year, UC San Diego used the same starting lineup in all 33 games. The Tritons were the only Division I team to use the same starting five every time out in 2023-24. Two of last year's starters return:
Hayden Gray and
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones.
WHOLE LOTTA POINTS
UC San Diego is one of 11 Division I institutions with five or more active 1,000-point scorers on its roster. Here are the team's current leading scorers (includes games played at other institutions):
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.
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 began a new era in 2020 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 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned 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 Divisions I and II.
