LA JOLLA, Calif. — Short–handed Cal State Monterey Bay hit the wall in an almost literal way Friday night as CCAA contender UC San Diego raced to a big early lead and never looked back in a 74–41 Triton victory in RIMAC Arena.

Sophomore forward Julien Ducree (Rancho Cucamonga HS) had a strong game with a 14–point, 10–rebound double–double. Freshman guard Joe Covarrubias (Montebello/Cantwell–Sacred Heart) added 12 points.

The Otters welcomed back freshman guard Jahvon Johnson (Clovis North HS)—bringing their roster back to seven players—but struggled to find their range all evening, shooting just 29 percent from the floor (13-of-45). UCSD wasn't much better (39 percent), but used a 48–28 rebounding edge to secure the win.
 

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THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… A Ben Rico 3–pointer made it 60–35 UCSD with 6:42 to play.

WELCOME BACK… The Otters finally expanded their roster again Friday night, if ever so slightly. Jahvon Johnson returned after missing a pair of games last weekend to play 17 minutes at UCSD Friday night. It was his first game off the bench after starting the first 17 games of his collegiate career.

A DUCREE DOUBLE–DOUBLE… Julien Ducree posted his fourth double–double of the season (and second in three games) with 14 points and 10 rebounds Friday night. He has recorded double–digit rebounds in his last three games.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Julien Ducree 14; REBOUNDS: Julien Ducree 10; ASSISTS: Julien Ducree 2; BLOCKS: Matt Bejsovec/Julien Ducree 3; STEALS: Jahvon Johnson 2.

THE LAST WORD… "We got beat by a better team tonight. We struggled to get going offensively early and never found a groove. We just have to let this one go and move on to tomorrow and the Coyotes" – CSUMB Head Coach Rob Bishop

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters conclude their brief 2–game Southern California trip with a visit to Coussoulis Arena to face Cal State San Bernardino Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.