CCAA

Strong Defensive Effort Lifts Tritons Past Gauchos

UC San Diego junior Francis Nwaokorie was one of three Tritons in double figures, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Tritons downed visiting UC Santa Barbara, 61-46, Thursday night in LionTree Arena. The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota native crossed both the 1,000-career point and 500 rebound marks on the way to the win.
 
The win gave the Tritons (16-9 overall, 10-3 Big West) a season sweep over the Gauchos for the first time as UC San Diego improved to 11-1 at home this season. The loss was the third consecutive for UC Santa Barbara (13-11, 6-8).
 
First year Triton Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones added a double-double of his own with 13 and 12, and Bryce Pope led all scorers with 15 in the win.