LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego men's basketball head coach Clint Allard '08 has announced the Tritons' 2026 non-conference schedule. The Tritons will play four regular season non-conference games on campus in LionTree Arena, including Nov. 7 against Fresno State to highlight UC San Diego's Homecoming Weekend. The Tritons will also host USC in an exhibition game Oct. 17 in La Jolla. That matchup vs. the Trojans will represent the first opportunity for season ticket holders to get a look at this year's Tritons.
 
"The goal of our non-conference schedule is to prepare us for the 22-game gauntlet that is Big West Conference play, and I feel confident we've accomplished that with challenging home, road and neutral-site opportunities against quality programs from great conferences," Allard said. "We're excited to get underway, and Triton fans have a lot of exciting basketball to look forward to this season."
 
UC San Diego opens its home slate against Whittier (Nov. 2). Also in November, the Tritons welcome Texas Southern (Nov. 16) and host LMU (Nov. 28). UC San Diego's final non-conference home contest will be against Stanton (Dec. 12).
 
The Tritons will face a challenging slate away from home in 2026, visiting Utah State on Nov. 13 before taking part in the previously announced Acrisure Series prior to Thanksgiving in Palm Desert. UC San Diego squares off against Seattle U in the opener (Nov. 22) and will take on either Loyola Chicago or San José State the following night. Other non-conference road games include matchups at St. Thomas (Dec. 15) and San José State (Dec. 22).
 
Last year, the Tritons won 23 games – the second-most in the program's Division I era – under first year head coach Clint Allard '08. This year's squad includes 10 returners from that team, along with six newcomers. UC San Diego basketball season tickets are available online by logging on to UCSDTritons.com/tickets, by calling (858) 534-1430, or by visiting the Triton Box Office on the UC San Diego campus between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, e-mail the box office at triton-tix@ucsd.edu.
 
The Tritons are set to begin their final season competing in The Big West, opening conference play at home against newcomer California Baptist on Dec. 3. UC San Diego will visit UC Irvine on Dec. 5.
 
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 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 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 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.