The UCSD men’s basketball team held onto an early advantage, despite late-game lead changes, for a 59-56 victory over Chapman on Nov. 29 at RIMAC Arena. The Tritons remain undefeated at home and even their record at 2-2 as the team heads into CCAA conference play with a home game against Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 3.

Sophomore guard Robby Peters led the Tritons in scoring with 14 points on four-of-six shooting from the three-point range and two-of-four shooting from the foul line.

Freshman guards Clint Allard and Andrew Hatch scored 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Sophomore forward Parker Berling, who scored 47 combined points over the two previous games, was held to four points on one-of-five shooting from the field, but led the Tritons with his five rebounds.

The Panthers were led by guard Patrick Carney and his 20-point performance, and three other players who collected game-high six rebounds each. Overall, Chapman outrebounded the Tritons, 35-28, but was held to less than .400 shooting from the field by a tenacious UCSD defense that also recorded five steals and four blocks and forced 17 Panther turnovers.

The Tritons, who built a 20-11 lead with 8 minutes and 47 seconds remaining in the first half, went scoreless for more than seven minutes before a jumper by Allard and a layup by junior guard Zach Zanolli gave UCSD a 24-23 halftime advantage over Chapman.

The two teams battled through a second half that included nine lead changes until UCSD finally pulled away on a 9-3 run down the stretch to secure the win.

The Tritons will be looking to maintain their current home winning streak as they start CCAA play Dec. 3 against Cal State Bakersfield, then continue with a game against Cal State Los Angeles on Dec. 4. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. at RIMAC Arena.