Roberts Keeps Tritons Rolling And Earns Second Player of the Week Award
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Redshirt sophomore guard Tyrell Roberts had another stellar weekend for league leader UC San Diego to pick up his second CCAA Player of the Week nod for Jan. 27-Feb. 2.
The Sacramento product was a first-time recipient of the award just two weeks ago, and joins Cal State San Bernardino guard Jeremy Smith as the lone two-timers for 2019-20. The Tritons now have a league-leading four weekly distinctions on the campaign, as senior teammates Chris Hansen (Nov. 12) and Christian Oshita (Nov. 26) were early honorees.
Roberts scored 22 of his game-high 32 points after halftime in Saturday’s come-from-behind 80-73 overtime triumph over Stanislaus State. He added a game- and career-best six steals, four rebounds and four assists over a career-high 43 minutes, hitting 10-of-19 from the field and 6-of-9 three-pointers while knocking down all six of his free throws.
The last of those six steals helped extend the contest, as Roberts swiped the ball from Ty Davis and fed Oshita ahead for an easy game-tying layup with just 22 seconds left in regulation. In overtime, his triple made it a two-possession game for the first time at 74-69 with 1:24 to go, before Roberts iced the game with four-consecutive free throws over the last 26 seconds.
On Thursday against Humboldt State, Roberts went for 17 points to go along with three rebounds and a steal over a game-high 31 minutes to aid in a comfortable 85-63 decision.
Roberts averaged 24.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals, 2.0 assists and 37.0 minutes for the week. He shot 16-for-36 (.444) from the field, including 9-for-14 (.643) from long range and a perfect 8-for-8 (1.000) from the free throw line.
Roberts’ 32-point effort fell one short of his best as a collegian. He has surged to the top of the CCAA scoring chart, now averaging 18.2 points per outing.
The home sweep moved UC San Diego’s lengthy win streak to a program-record 13 in a row, with the Tritons at 21-1 overall and 15-1 in league play. They have built up a 2.5-game lead atop the standings over second-place Cal State San Bernardino.
UC San Diego has a lone game this week, but it’s a big one, as the Tritons travel north to take on the only team that has bested it thus far, in third-place rival Chico State. Tipoff inside Acker Gymnasium on Thursday night is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Also nominated:
Justin Briggs, Chico State
Daytone Jennings, Cal State San Bernardino
Blake Seits, Cal State San Marcos
Phoenix Shackelford, Cal Poly Pomona
Jackson Strong, Humboldt State
Evan Wardlow, Cal State East Bay