UCSD wins Florida tournament, improves to 7-0 this season

Five players scored in double figures and UC San Diego downed a season-high 16 3-pointers on the way to an 87-73 victory over Towson in Wednesday’s championship game of the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational in  Kissimmee, Fla.

UCSD improved to 7-0 with the win, which came after tournament victories over Temple and Bradley. The Tritons are off to their fastest start since becoming a Division I basketball program in 2020.

UCSD led wire-to-wire, jumping out to a 9-0 lead on three straight 3-pointers.

The Tritons led by as many as 24 points in the first half. They were 11 for 18 from 3-point range while building a 50-31 lead into halftime, although Towson pulled to within eight points midway through the second half. The Tritons then went on a 14-4 run to push the lead back to 18 with 5:43 to play.

“I’m really proud of the guys and their effort the last three days,” said UC San Diego head coach Clint Allard. “We know we’ve got a lot of guys who can shoot, and we showed that today.”

Forward Leo Beath led UCSD with 16 points and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The transfer from Lynn University scored 70 points and had 12 rebounds in the three games.

Aidan Burke scored 14 points on Wednesday while going 4 for 5 from beyond the arc. Emanuel Prospere II scored 11 points while Tom Beattie and Hudson Mayes each scored 10. Beattie also had six assists. Nine Tritons connected on at least one 3-pointer, tying the NCAA record for a game.

Over three days in Florida, the Tritons shot 58.1% (93 for 160) from the floor and 51.9% (40 for 77) from 3-point range. They committed only 21 turnovers while making 20 steals.

No player played more than 34 minutes in any of the three games. Beath and Beattie were the only players who averaged more than 30 minutes a game, while five other Tritons averaged between 19 and 28 minutes a game.

“We’re a tough team to prepare for on short rest,” Allard said. “And we responded well to being in that situation ourselves. Winning this championship is a testament to the belief in the program. We’re not a finished product and have plenty of room to get better, but this one feels great.”

The win was UCSD’s 18th consecutive regular-season victory dating to January.

UCSD continues its 34-day stretch on the road next Tuesday night with a game at Nevada.