Tritons Advance to Big West Championship with Strong Defense over Gauchos

HENDERSON, Nev. — In a striking display of defense, the UC San Diego men’s basketball team triumphed over UC Santa Barbara Friday night, securing a 69-51 victory in the semifinals of the Big West Conference tournament. This significant win not only propels the Tritons closer to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth but also showcases the team’s resilience in their inaugural year of full Division I membership.

Head coach Eric Olen‘s squad entered the contest after a limited 25-minute shootaround at Lee’s Family Forum, thanks to the ongoing concurrent tournaments. “Hey, it shouldn’t affect our defense,” Olen quipped prior to the game, words that would prove prophetic as the Tritons’ defensive prowess dictated the match.

The Tritons initially struggled offensively, posting their lowest first-half score of the season with just 26 points. They entered the halftime break trailing the Gauchos, a stark contrast to their offensive average of 80.3 points per game. However, their opponents fared even worse, shooting only 26.7% from the field.

“Defense is something we can control,” said senior guard Hayden Gray, who leads the nation in steals. “A lot of it is effort. We know the offense will take care of itself, and we have talented offensive players.” Gray’s performance included 11 points and a pivotal role in energizing the team during critical moments.

The second half saw the Tritons shift gears, responding with a shooting efficiency of 53.8% and ultimately outscoring the Gauchos following a 15-0 run that included a technical foul against UCSB junior guard Ben Shtolzberg. “For sure it did,” Gray confirmed when asked if the technical energized his teammates. “It was a great energy boost for us.”

With 20 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was a standout player, nearly achieving a triple-double. “I started rough… but my teammates kept telling me, ‘Keep getting to the line,’ and that’s what I did,” Tait-Jones noted postgame.

The victory puts the Tritons, now 29-4, one game away from championship glory against second-seeded UC Irvine, who advanced after a 96-78 win over Cal Poly. The tournament culminates Saturday night at 6:40 p.m. where UCSD will face off against UCI, a team that has proved to be a strong rival throughout the season.

Overall, the Tritons showcased a balanced attack complemented by impressive defensive efforts that enabled them to dominate the Gauchos, who ended their season with a record of 21-13. The Tritons have now its sights set on not only securing the Big West title but also possibly making history by reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

“Our approach was to play as hard as we can,” Olen said. “Given their recent games, we felt we could sustain that effort better. It always feels like a run is coming, and we were fortunate that it did tonight.”