Box Score: Sonoma State 83, UC San Diego 60
ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Behind the 18 points of
Ben Washington and four others scoring in double-figures, the Sonoma State men's basketball team avenged an earlier loss to UC San Diego with a convincing 83-60 victory over the Tritons on Thursday night at The Wolves' Den. The Seawolves (7-10, 5-8 CCAA) won their second straight game as the visiting Tritons fall below .500 at 9-10 overall and 4-9 in conference play.
The Seawolves, who came into Thursday's contest leading the CCAA in field goal percentage, continued their hot shooting, hitting 51.1 percent of their shots (23 of 45), including 14 of 27 in the first half. It wasn't just shooting from the floor that kept the Seawolves up big all night, but Sonoma State hit 32 of 35 shots from the free throw line (91.4 percent), including 24 of 26 from the charity stripe in the second half.
As the shots continued to rattle in, SSU played tight defense, forcing 17 UC San Diego turnovers by virtue of 11 steals, five of which were grabbed by
Steven Pratt. Pratt had a big all-around night, dropping in 13 points, corralling five rebounds and handing out five assists as well as the aforementioned five steals. The only statistical disadvantage came on the glass, though, as the Tritons had 30 rebounds to the Seawolves' 23.
Ten of the twelve Sonoma State players who saw action against UC San Diego on Thursday scored a point -- Washington,
James Sandoval (16), Pratt,
Will Olsem (12),
Matthew French (10),
Steve Lackey (6),
Brian Crow (3),
Patrick Scott (2),
Ash Arnott (2), and
Mike Stornaiuolo (1). It was Stornaiuolo's first career point.
After a 9-3 Seawolf lead early in the first half, the Tritons remained within at least five points for the majority of the first 15 minutes of play. However, a three-pointer by Washington gave Sonoma State an eight-point cushion. SSU eventually grabbed its largest lead of the first half (10), after a jumper by French put the Seawolves up 36-26 just before half.
It was all Sonoma State in the second half though, as the Seawolves outscored the visitors 45-31 in the final 20 minutes of regulation.
Sonoma State will look to remain hot when it hosts Cal State East Bay on Saturday night in The Wolves' Den. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
