LA JOLLA, Calif-- For the second consecutive year, it was the UC San Diego Tritons defeating the visiting SF State Gators in double overtime at RIMAC Arena on the campus of UC San Diego. With the 87-82 double overtime loss, the Gators had their four-game winning streak snapped and fall to 12-7 overall and 10-5 in the CCAA. The Tritons improve to 10-11 overall and 5-10 in the CCAA while snapping their five-game losing streak.

“This is a tough one to take as we did not have the passion on the offensive and the defensive end at the beginning of the game,” said first-year head coach Paul Trevor. “Give UC San Diego the credit though as they did a great job tonight especially on the glass,' added Trevor. “This just shows us you need to come out and be ready to play every night in the CCAA.”

The Tritons took a 16-9 lead on a Justin Brue lay-up in the first nine minutes of the game, but the Gators cut that lead to just 21-18 as Nefi Perdomo (Oakland, California, Skyline )two made free throws capped a 9-5 run by the visitors with 7:02 to go in the first stanza. Three minutes later, SF State continued its run as it cut the Triton lead to just 25-24 on a Matt Fochtman lay-up.

UC San Diego increased its lead to six (31-25) with 1:23 to go on a three by Mike Meza, but the Gators scored the final four points of the half to cut the lead to 31-29 going into the locker room on a Perdomo jumper.

SF State took its first lead of the game, four minutes into the second half on a lay-up by Marquel Hoskins (Beloit, Wisconsin, Reedley College)(36-35). The visitors increased their lead to 55-51 on an old-fashioned three-point play by Tim Pratt at the 7:19 mark. UC San Diego retook the lead, 61-60, on a dunk by Brue with just 3:20 left in the game.

Hoskins' lay-up with 1:46 left on the clock tied the game at 64-64, but Brue scored for the Tritons to give the hosts back the lead 66-64 with a little under 90 seconds to go. With 27 seconds to go, Hoskins stepped once again for the Gators as he connected on another old-fashioned three-point play to give SF State a 67-66 lead. That is when the Tritons' Christian Hatch was fouled with 18 seconds to go and converted 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game a 67-67. SF State had a chance to take the lead, but turned the ball over as did the Tritons in the final seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime.

In the first overtime, the Tritons scored the first four points to take a 71-67 lead in the first minute of the extra session. SF State did not give up as the Gators went on a 5-0 run capped by Fochtman's lay-up and made free throw to give them a 72-71 lead with 2:44 left in the first overtime.

Brue gave the Tritons back the lead on their next possession, 73-72, and they increased their lead to 77-72 on four made free throws by James McCann. With 29 seconds left in the first overtime, Hoskins made two free throws to cut the Triton lead to 77-74. The Tritons then missed their next two free throws and that set up the heroics for freshman Jamari Simmons (San Bernardino, California, Cajon)as he made the game-tying three to send the game into the second overtime.

In the second overtime, the Gators took an 82-77 lead as Hoskins made a lay-up andChad Delaney (Yorba Linda, California, Orange Coast College)made a three. UC San Diego would not go away as the Tritons' Meza and McGrath hit back to back three's to give them an 83-82 lead with 1:27 to go in the second overtime.

SF State's missed their attempt to cut into the lead and McCann hit a jumper on the Tritons' next possession to give them a 85-82 lead, a lead they would not relinquish as they held on for a 87-82 victory. 

Christian Hatch led five Tritons in double figures with 24 points while Casey Ryan had 10 points and 20 rebounds. UC San Diego out-rebounded the Gators 50-36.

SF State was led by Hoskins' 23 points while Perdomo and Phoenix O'Rourke (San Mateo, California, Junipero Serra)each chipped in 14 points.

The Gators will look to get back on the winning track this Saturday as they travel to Hayward, Calif., for a 7:30pm scheduled tip-off with the Cal State East Bay Pioneers

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