SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and offensive inefficiency, the UC San Diego Tritons used a dominant performance from center Bol Dengdit and a stifling defensive effort to pull away from the UC Davis Aggies for a 68-51 victory in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at RIMAC Arena.

A crowd of 1,874 watched as the Tritons avenged a loss from earlier in the season, improving to 17-9 overall. The Aggies, who had won two straight, fell to 15-10.

The most critical phase of the game occurred early in the second half, when UC San Diego decisively extinguished a brief UC Davis rally. After trailing 33-20 at halftime, the Aggies opened the second period with a burst, cutting the deficit to 41-36 on a Connor Sevilla three-pointer with 15:29 remaining. The surge prompted a UC San Diego timeout.

Out of the stoppage, the Tritons reasserted control entirely. On the ensuing possession, Jaden Vance answered with a three-pointer. Then, following an Aggies miss, Hudson Mayes drew a foul and made two free throws. After another UC Davis turnover, Bol Dengdit sank his fourth three-pointer of the night, pushing the lead back to 13 points at 49-36 in a devastating 90-second sequence. The Aggies never threatened again, as the Triton lead ballooned to as many as 19 points.

The game was a stark contrast in styles and execution. UC San Diego’s offense, while not prolific, was efficient, shooting 54% from the field. Their defense was the story, recording eight blocks and forcing 13 turnovers, which they converted into 15 points. UC Davis, conversely, endured a nightmarish shooting performance, making only 35.5% of its field goals and a catastrophic 1 of 7 from the free-throw line. The Aggies’ 51 points on 71 possessions reflected an offensive rating of just 71.5.

Dengdit, a 6-foot-11 junior from Melbourne, Australia, was the focal point for the Tritons, scoring a game-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He added two blocks and was a constant deterrent in the paint. Mayes, a guard from Los Angeles, complemented him with 18 points, and Tom Beattie of Auckland, New Zealand, chipped in 10 points.

UC Davis was led by Marcus Wilson’s 13 points, but the guard from Albuquerque needed 14 shots to get there. The Aggies did force 20 Triton turnovers, leading to 19 points, and held a 23-5 advantage in fast-break points, but their inability to score in the half-court and capitalize at the free-throw line proved insurmountable.

The first half set the tone for the struggle. Both teams opened cold, but UC San Diego found a rhythm midway through the period. A 13-2 run, capped by an Aidan Burke layup, gave the Tritons a 20-9 lead they would not relinquish. UC Davis shot just 29% in the half and went 0-for-4 from the free-throw line, digging a hole too deep to escape despite their second-half energy.

The win solidified UC San Diego’s position in the upper tier of the Big West, while UC Davis will look to regroup quickly with a home game against Long Beach State scheduled for Saturday. According to pregame projections, UC San Diego was a 5.5-point favorite, and the combined score of 119 fell well under the over/under line of 146.5.