LA JOLLA, Calif. - Chris Hansen scored a game-high 21 points to lift the 22nd-ranked University of California San Diego men's basketball team to a 60-56 conference victory against No. 17 Chico State Thursday evening at RIMAC Arena.
With its second win in three days, UC San Diego improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Chico State, which had won five-straight games entering tonight's contest, fell to 6-2 on the year and 0-1 in the CCAA.
Hansen, who collected 13 of his points in the second half, was 8-for-18 from the floor, including a three-pointer. The sophomore center also had seven rebounds, an assist and a block. It was his second-consecutive game with 20-plus points as he netted 24 Tuesday at Cal Poly Pomona.
Two other Tritons hit double figures with Christian Oshita scoring 12 points and Adam Klie totaling 10. Klie also had a game-high nine rebounds.
UC San Diego, which ranks 10th nationally in fewest turnovers per game (10.4), had just six Thursday. Chico State turned it over 14 times, leading to 11 Triton points.
UCSD shot 37 percent (22-59) for the game, while CSUC hit at 38 percent (18-47).
The Wildcats had an eight-point lead with 12:29 left in the first half. However, the Tritons went on a 16-2 run and led 19-13 at the 7:50 mark. CSUC cut the deficit to one point three times before the half, but UCSD was ahead by five, 29-24, at the intermission.
With 1:20 expired in the second half, Chico tied it briefly at 29-29, but UC San Diego quickly went back in front and led until 12:17 when a layup by Nate Ambrosini gave the Wildcats their first lead (40-39) since the midpoint of the opening half. Back-to-back layups by Hansen, the second coming with 4:31 left, swung the game back in UCSD's favor, 52-51. Chico State tied it two more times before another Hansen layup at 2:09 gave the Tritons a 56-54 lead and they stayed ahead the rest of the way.
Corey Silverstrom led Chico State with 13 points and Ambrosini followed with 11. Justin Briggs had eight rebounds, while Isaiah Ellis had four assists and four blocks.
UC San Diego is off until Monday, Dec. 12 when it hosts non-conference opponent Western Washington at 7:00 p.m. The Vikings are currently 6-0 and ranked 18th in the country.
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