LA JOLLA, Calif. – After posting an 18-2 conference record on the way to its first regular season men's basketball title, UC San Diego earned five of the conference's seven major awards Tuesday. The Big West announced its postseason awards voted on by the conference's 11 head coaches ahead of its championship, which begins Wednesday. Senior guard/forward Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones is The Big West Player of the Year, Triton head coach Eric Olen is Coach of the Year for the second straight season, senior point guard Hayden Gray captured Best Defensive player, junior Chris Howell is the Best Hustle Player, and junior Justin Rochelin garnered the conference's Best Sixth Player award.
 
In addition, Tait-Jones and senior Tyler McGhie were named All-Big West First Team and Gray garnered All-Big West Second Team accolades. For the second season in a row, the Tritons are the only Big West program to win multiple major awards.
 
Playing in their fifth Division I season – and first with NCAA postseason eligibility – UC San Diego has amassed a 28-4 overall record. Winners of 13 straight, the Tritons lead the nation in turnover margin (+7.5) and rank second in fewest turnovers per game (8.8) and scoring margin (18.3). UC San Diego leads the conference in scoring defense and assist-turnover ratio.
 
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones captured Big West Player of the Year honors – the first Triton to win this award. In his second season at UC San Diego, Tait-Jones ranks third in the conference in scoring at 21.0 points per game against Big West foes. The New Zealand native was remarkably efficient, connecting on 57% of his shot attempts over 20 Big West games. He leads the nation in free throw attempts (274), and his 629 points this season are a Division I record for the program. Tait-Jones was also named to the All-Big West First Team and was last year's conference Newcomer of the Year.
 
The conference's Coach of the Year honor is the fourth such award for Eric Olen, and his second in a row in The Big West. In 12 years as UC San Diego's head man, Olen has also garnered a pair of CCAA Coach of the Year honors and an NABC West Region Coach of the Year accolade from his time in Division II. Under his leadership, the Tritons have won 20 or more games seven times. His 238 victories are more than any other coach in program history.
 
Hayden Gray becomes the first Triton to be named The Big West's Best Defensive Player. Gray leads the nation in steals (104) and steals per game (3.25). Gray has amassed 104 steals this season while committing just 44 turnovers. His assist-turnover ratio (3.1) during Big West play is second in the conference, trailing only teammate Chris Howell. Playing in his second year at UC San Diego, Gray has started all 65 games over the two seasons. Gray was also named to the All-Big West Second Team.
 
The Big West's Best Hustle Player is UC San Diego junior Chris Howell. The first year Triton leads the conference in assist-turnover ratio (3.2) against Big West opponents. His 47 steals over 20 Big West games trailed only Gray's 57. Howell has started all 32 games this season so far for the Tritons.
 
Justin Rochelin was named the conference's Best Sixth Player – the second UC San Diego scholar-athlete to win the award (Tyler McGhie, last season). Rochelin averaged more than seven points and three rebounds per game off the bench during conference play, providing a spark with his athleticism and thunderous dunks.
 
Tyler McGhie was named to the All-Big West First Team. During conference play, McGhie averaged 14.4 points and 2.8 three-pointers per game. His 111 three-point field goal makes have tied a UC San Diego single season record, while ranking fifth nationally. His 3.47 threes per game are tops in The Big West and fifth nationally.
 
For a complete list of 2025 Big West award-winners, visit bigwest.org.
 
Big West regular season champion UC San Diego opens play at the Hercules Tires Big West Championship on Friday evening. Playing as the No. 1 seed, the Tritons will begin their quest for a title in the semifinal round at 6 p.m. on ESPN+, SiriusXM, and KSDT radio.

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.