LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Junior forward Petar Kutlesic scored 21 of his career-high 26 points in the second half to lead an Azusa Pacific comeback which fell just short in the closing seconds in a 70-67 defeat to UC San Diego in the final game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association/Pacific West Conference Challenge hosted by UC San Diego.

Despite shooting just 25 percent (6-for-24) on three-pointers and only 42 percent (24-for-57) overall from the field, the Cougars spent almost the entire second half whittling down a 13-point deficit in order to have a chance to win the game in the final minute before falling to 2-3 on the season.

A Kutlesic three-pointer with 3:06 to play pulled Azusa Pacific within three, 61-58, and Connor Peterson made it a two-point game with 11 seconds, 66-64, before Peterson hit a three-pointer with three seconds left that trimmed the deficit to a single point, 68-67. George Buaku hit a pair of crucial free throws for UC San Diego with a second left on the clock for the final three-point margin of victory.

For the second straight game, Azusa Pacific won the rebounding battle, posting a 36-28 edge which led to a 17-4 scoring margin in second chance points. Kutlesic and Corey Langerveld each pulled down a game-high six rebounds for the Cougars, who converted 12 offensive boards into 17 points.

Three players reached double figures in scoring as Joey Schreiber scored 15 points while hitting three-of-seven three-pointers to join Kutlesic (26 points) and Langerveld, who added 10 points.

Schreiber scored seven of his 15 points in the first nine minutes of the game, helping lead Azusa Pacific to an early 16-8 lead with 11:22 remaining in the first half. The Cougars held the lead until Ben Rico tied the game at 23-23 with 4:35 to play in the half, helping UC San Diego finish the half on an 11-3 run and take a 34-29 edge into halftime.

The run continued into the second half as the Tritons scored the first eight points after halftime to take a 42-29 lead, its largest of the game, with 17:05 remaining. Langerveld and Kutlesic responded by scoring the next seven points, and the Cougars never trailed by more than 10 points again. A Buaku three-pointer with 5:35 left pushed UC San Diego's lead to 61-51, but Kutlesic capped another 7-0 burst with a three-pointer that cut the margin to three (61-58) with 3:06 to play.

UC San Diego had three players in double figures, as Adam Klie led the Tritons with a 20-point, 7-assist effort. Chris Hansen contributed 16 points in 17 minutes of action, as he was limited by foul trouble, and Buaku added 10.

WHAT'S NEXT: After playing five games in its first nine days of the season, Azusa Pacific is off until next Saturday's home opener against another CCAA foe, Cal State San Marcos, which split opening-weekend games to start the 2016-17 campaign with a 1-1 record.