The UCSD men’s basketball team continued its strong play against Division I opponents in its second and final exhibition game of the season, falling by a score of 74-69 to the University of San Diego Toreros at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Nov. 13. The game, a regular-season contest for the Toreros, left them with a 1-1 record on the season, while the Tritons ended their exhibition season at 0-2 after a 62-51 loss at UC Santa Barbara two weeks prior.
Sophomore forward Henry Patterson led his team with 14 points in the Tritons’ faceoff against the University of San Diego on Nov. 13. The match ended with the Toreros edging UCSD 74-69, dropping the Tritons’ preseason record to 0-2.
The Tritons showed their determination right from the start of the game, with 6-foot, 4-inch sophomore forward Shane Poppen outworking 6-foot, 7-inch Torero sophomore forward Gyno Pomare for the opening tip. UCSD used that opening possession to begin the ball movement and sharing its players would exhibit throughout the game, getting it inside to sophomore forward Henry Patterson for a layup. The Toreros responded with eight straight points, but UCSD demonstrated tremendous poise and battled back with its own 12-4 run, including two acrobatic layups by freshman guard Jordan Lawley — the second of which gave the squad its second lead of the game with just under 10 minutes left in the half.
“”The new players have stepped right in and already made an impact,”” said junior guard Clint Allard, one of nine letter-winners returning from last year’s squad and a veteran of the team, now in his third year.
The Toreros responded again and built up an eight-point lead that would turn out to be their largest of the game. UCSD guard Robby Peters, the lone senior on this year’s team, went on fire in the final nine minutes of the half as his five three-pointers brought UCSD back within striking range. His final shot from behind the arc beat the buzzer to give the Tritons a 34-33 lead at the half.
UCSD came out of the break with just as much focus, opening the second half like the first as Patterson took it inside for the opening two points of the period. The Tritons continued to methodically move the ball around and penetrate the lane, resulting in a seven-point advantage with 15 minutes, 30 seconds in the second half. After a layup by Torero senior forward Theo White, the University of San Diego began to apply a full-court press and trapping scheme that resulted immediately in a White steal and dunk. Over the next five minutes, the Toreros would go on a 19-11 run, with seven points from senior guard Ross DeRogatis, to tie and subsequently retake the lead with just over eight minutes left in the game.
“”Their constant pressure broke us down for a short stretch in the second half, and that little breakdown decided the game,”” Allard said.
Though UCSD would never lead again, the team continued to battle after falling behind by seven points following DeRogatis’ second three-pointer of the half.
UCSD benefited from a Patterson field goal and steal and an Allard three-pointer to get back within two before free-throws by Torero senior forward Nir Cohen, sophomore guard Brandon Johnson and DeRogatis sealed the victory.
“”I thought the way that Ross DeRogatis lifted his team in the second half when they were down was impressive,”” Allard said. “”The veterans on this team, particularly myself, [junior guard] Andrew Hatch and Robby [Peters] could all learn from that mindset.””
DeRogatis finished with a game-high 18 points while grabbing a team-best four rebounds. Pomare, Cohen and Johnson also scored in double digits for the Toreros with 15, 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Peters led the Tritons with 17 points, and sophomore forward Henry Patterson, an All-California Collegiate Athletic Association First Team member last year in his first season of Triton basketball, contributed a 14-point, 11-rebound performance. Allard rounded out the Tritons in double digits with 11 points, while adding a team-high three assists, while Lawley connected on four of his five field goal attempts for eight points off the bench.
As a team, UCSD had a solid offensive night, shooting 45 percent from the field, including 60 percent from three-point range. The Tritons also held a 26-24 rebounding edge over the Toreros for the game.
UCSD will open the regular season against yet another Division I opponent, traveling to face cross-town foe San Diego State University. The Tritons will then continue on the road, traveling to Phoenix, for a Nov. 20 matchup against Grand Canyon University.
