UCSD Piles Up Road Wins During Hot Streak, Driving Climb Up Mid-Major Ranks

UC San Diego, after a momentous stretch on the road, returns to LionTree Arena at 4 p.m. Saturday to face Occidental (4-3).

The Tritons (11-2, 2-0 Big West) won three road games last week to push their win streak to nine games – the program’s longest since it began Division I play in 2020.

The victories drove UCSD up seven spots to No. 10 in this week’s Mid-Major Top 25 college basketball poll, voted on by 31 Division I coaches.

McGhie going off in the final minutes of this game!!!????????#GoTritons pic.twitter.com/E6Bt6NopTn

— UC San Diego Men’s Hoops (@UCSDmbb) December 18, 2024

The Tritons, who debuted on the poll at No. 20 in the second week of December, have reached their highest ranking since moving to Division I.

The road wins came at Idaho (5-8) and the University of San Diego (3-9), but in between and most notably at Utah State (10-1, 1-0 Mountain West), which had been undefeated on the season.

UCSD prevailed 75-73, led by Tyler McGhie with 26 points, including six three-pointers, and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, who was 10-for-12 from the free throw line. With the loss, the Aggies – a conference rival of San Diego State’s – suffered just their fourth home defeat in 46 games.

Tough McGhie!! ????????????https://t.co/vZMpZ1yUQ9#GoTritons pic.twitter.com/XU1JK7cj6X— UC San Diego Men’s Hoops (@UCSDmbb) December 22, 2024

The Tritons won despite trailing at the half and committing a season-high 18 turnovers. But Utah State didn’t capitalize on the miscues, and UCSD did, scoring just 13 points off turnovers to the Tritons’ 22.

UCSD’s defense also stifled Utah State in the second half. The Aggies made just 28.6% of their field goals and only 16.7% from long distance.

“We talked about staying connected and keeping our composure and I thought we did that. We certainly weren’t perfect … They did the things they needed to do, made a lot of tough plays and kept fighting the whole way,” said head coach Eric Olen after the win.

McGhie stood out against USD as well, going 7-for-10 from beyond the arc and matching his season high by scoring 27. The senior hit a trifecta on awards for his efforts – he was named Lou Henson National Player of the Week, Mid-Major Player of the Week and Big West Player of the Week.

Big West play resumes for UCSD Jan. 4 at Cal State Fullerton. The team then has two games at home, against Cal Poly and UC Irvine.