BOX SCORE Sonoma State 79, UC San Diego 54 -- Box Score
ROHNERT PARK -- Mike Harris scored 11 of his team-high 15 points in the second half and
Justin Herold and
James Davis added double figures, too, as the Sonoma State men's basketball team ended a nine-game losing streak in impressive fashion, blowing by visiting UC San Diego, 79-54, on Friday night at The Wolves' Den. The Seawolves earn their first win in conference play, rising to 1-8 and 2-11 overall. The Tritons, meanwhile, fall to 7-6 (3-6 CCAA).
No matter where Sonoma State shot from, the ball was more than likely going through the net, as the hosts connected on better than 50 percent of their shots in both halves, and was even more deadly from beyond the three-point range, hitting 10 of 16 shots from long range. For the game, the Seawolves were 28 for 52 from the hardwood, a 53.8 percent clip; the second-best efficiency of the season. From beyond the arc, SSU was 10 of 16 (62.5 percent), a season-high.
The Seawolves controlled -- and dominated -- every facet of the game, leading the Tritons in rebounds (31-18), assists (15-5), steals (5-3), points in the paint (34-24) and second-chance points (17-4). The SSU defense was just as stifling, holding UCSD to just 34.0 percent from the floor on 17 of 50 shooting, including a dismal 3 for 24 (12.5 percent) output from long range.
UC San Diego held just one lead in the game, thanks to MacKenzie McCullough's jumper at the 19:25 mark of the first half to put the visitors up 2-0, but Sonoma State answered with nine straight points to take a 9-2 lead. The Tritons responded with a miniature 5-0 run before the Seawolves exploded offensively. Sonoma went on a 15-0 run, stretching it to a 20-2 run over a span of six minutes to lead by as much as 20 points at 29-9 with 8:40 to go in the opening period. The closest UCSD would get the rest of the way was 14 points, as they trailed 46-32 with 13:45 remaining in the contest, but SSU continued its offensive prowess and led by 20 points or more for the final 10 minutes.
In addition to Harris' 15 points, Herold chipped in with 13 points and Davis with 12.
For the Tritons, James McCann led all scorers with 17, but was the only UCSD player to score more than eight points.
Sonoma State looks to continue its success against ninth-ranked Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday night at The Wolves' Den for a 7:30 pm tipoff. The Coyotes, with a 10-point win over San Francisco State on Friday, will come into Rohnert Park with a 12-1 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in CCAA play this season.
