LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego won its fourth consecutive game Thursday night, topping Cal State Bakersfield, 84-72, in a Big West contest at LionTree Arena. Freshman
Hudson Mayes scored 21 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Tritons, who improved to 20-9 overall and 10-7 in Big West action. The 20-win campaign is the third consecutive for UC San Diego.
Triton junior
Tom Beattie posted his second double-double of the season with 11 points and ten rebounds. Junior
Bol Dengdit scored 15 and sophomore
Alex Chaikin chipped in 11 in the victory.
Ronald Jessamy scored 40 points to lead the way for Cal State Bakersfield (8-21, 2-15). He was 12-of-14 from the free throw line.
With the win, UC San Diego moved into a fifth-place tie with Cal State Fullerton in The Big West standings. Both teams are 10-7 with three games remaining – including a head-to-head showdown next Thursday in Fullerton.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego connected on 52% of its shot attempts in the first half to take a 43-27 lead into intermission. Mayes led the way with 10 points and five boards, with Beattie adding six and five. The Tritons led by as many as 21 (41-20 at 2:08) and only trailed briefly, 2-0, out of the gate. UC San Diego outrebounded the Roadrunners, 21-15, over the first 20 minutes.
Jessamy scored 19 of Bakersfield's 27 first half points, connecting on seven of the 'Runners' nine made field goals.
After halftime, the Tritons ran their lead back out to 20 points, 50-30, on a three-pointer from Chaikin. Cal State Bakersfield got within nine but could draw no closer.
The Tritons shot 50% for the game (26-for-52) and controlled the glass, outrebounding the 'Runners, 37-26. UC San Diego pulled down 11 offensive rebounds leading to 20 second chance points.
TRITON TIDBITS
- UC San Diego's 84-point effort marked the team's most points against a Big West opponent this season.
- The Tritons led, 43-27, at halftime. UC San Diego is 17-1 when leading at the half.
- With one game remaining, UC San Diego improved to 5-1 in February.
- Grad student Emanuel Prospere II logged ten minutes Thursday – his first action since Jan. 31 at CSUN.
- All nine Tritons who played Thursday scored at least three points.
- UC San Diego hit 24 free throws in the win – the team's most against a Division I foe this season.
QUOTABLE
UP NEXT
UC San Diego welcomes Cal Poly on Saturday at 7 p.m. for the Triton's final home game. It's Senior Night, and
Emanuel Prospere II will be recognized before the game. Tickets can be purchased through the
Triton Box Office. The game will air live on ESPN+ and KSDT radio, with a link to 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.
