HENDERSON, Nev. — UC San Diego’s top-seeded basketball team triumphed over UC Santa Barbara, securing a 69-51 victory in the Big West Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was a standout player for the Tritons, racking up 20 points during the match. Their performance has earned them a spot in the championship game, where they will face the winner of the semifinal matchup between No. 2 UC Irvine and seventh-seeded Cal Poly on Saturday.
Tait-Jones not only led in scoring but also contributed significantly in other areas, amassing eight rebounds, nine assists, and three blocks for the Tritons, who boast an impressive 29-4 season record. Tyler McGhie also made a noteworthy contribution with 13 points, though he struggled with shooting, making just 2 of 13 from the field including 2 of 10 from three-point territory. He was more successful from the free-throw line, making 7 of 9 attempts and adding five rebounds. Nordin Kapic further bolstered the Tritons’ efforts, scoring 13 points after shooting 5 of 10 overall and 2 of 6 from beyond the arc. This game marked the Tritons’ 13th consecutive win.
For UC Santa Barbara, Stephan D. Swenson led the team with 12 points and six assists. Ben Shtolzberg matched Swenson’s scoring with 12 points of his own, while Kenny Pohto contributed 10 points for the Gauchos, who concluded their season with a 21-13 record.
In this tightly contested game, Tait-Jones posted seven points in the first half, and UC San Diego found themselves trailing 27-26 at halftime. However, a remarkable 18-2 scoring run in the second half turned a narrow two-point deficit into a commanding 46-32 lead for the Tritons with 12:39 remaining. Tait-Jones scored 13 of his 20 points in this decisive half, cementing UC San Diego’s place in the tournament final.
