by LA JOLLA, Calif. – Playing in his first game as a Triton, Treysen Eaglestaff put on a show, scoring a game-high 29 points and pulling down seven rebounds. However, visiting USC hung on for an 80-74 win over UC San Diego in an exhibition contest Saturday night at LionTree Arena. The game was played in front of a preseason sellout crowd of 4,000. Leo Beath scored 11 and first-year Triton Rahmir Barno scored ten and added four steals for UC San Diego.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that featured five ties and seven lead changes. UC San Diego knocked down a couple of quick three-pointers and went up 11-6. USC responded with a 12-1 run to take an 18-12 lead with 11:22 left in the half.
A three-pointer from Kayde Dotson and an Olavi Suutela layup knotted the score at 22 and forced a Trojan timeout at the 8:55 mark. Eaglestaff got off to a blazing start offensively, hitting his first four 3-point tries and scoring 14 quick points for UC San Diego.
With two minutes to go in the half, Beath sank a three and, on the subsequent possession, Barno got a steal and a driving layup to put UC San Diego on top, 36-33.
USC got a bucket in the final seconds, taking a 40-38 lead into halftime. Eaglestaff led all scorers with 18 and he had a game-high six rebounds. Dotson added five for the Tritons, who forced eight Trojan turnovers in the first half.
USC took a 10-point lead, 62-52, with 12:09 to play. The Tritons battled back, drawing to within three on a Jaden Vance layup. UC San Diego leveled the score on Eaglestaff’s fifth three of the night, forcing a USC timeout with 5:08 left.
The Trojans were 12-for-15 from the free throw line in the second half to seal the exhibition win. Rodney Rice scored 26 and Alijah Arenas added 22 for USC in the victory.
