Thursday, November 24
Anaheim, CA
1:30 pm
UC Riverside
46
vs
71
Villanova
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Wildcats Use 18-2 First-Half Run To Top UCR, 71-46 In 76 Classic
11/24/2011 2:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Anaheim, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team jumped out to an early lead in their first game of the 76 Classic Thursday afternoon, but the Villanova Wildcats used an 18-2 run midway through the period on their way to a 71-46 win. (Box Score)
The Highlanders (1-3) made three of their first six shots of the game to take a 9-3 lead with 3:12 gone and still led 12-10 shortly after the second media timeout, but the Wildcats (4-0) went on an 18-2 run over an 8:29 span to build a 14-point lead, 28-14. BJ Shearry snapped the run with a jumper, but 'Nova scored the final two baskets of the period and went into the locker room leading, 32-16.
Twelve of Villanova's 32 first-half points came from the free throw line where they were 12 of 14 in the first 20 minutes of play. Defensively, the Wildcats forced the Highlanders to settle mostly for long jump shots. UCR was 6 of 26 from the floor in the first including 1 of 10 from long distance.
The Highlanders scored the first points of the second half on a pair of Kareem Nitoto free throws, but Villanova connected on 6 of 8 shots to start the period and built a 46-22 lead with 14:59 to go.
Daymond Cowlah hit four consecutive baskets including two three-pointers, as UCR hit 8 of 15 over the first 12-plus minutes of play, cutting the 'Nova advantage to 16 at one point. But the Highlanders cooled off connecting on just 2 of 9 shots the rest of the way while the Wildcats made 48.5 percent of their shots in the second stanza.
Cowlah led UC Riverside with 10 points on the night, four off of his career high of 14 set at Cal State Northridge on January 13, 2011.
Maalik Wayns led four Wildcats in double figures with 22 points while Darrun Hilliard and James Bell added 12 apiece, and Mouphtaou Yarou chipped in with 11.
The Highlanders face Boston College tomorrow at 2 pm PT. The Eagles lost to St. Louis in the first game of the tournament, 62-51.
The Highlanders (1-3) made three of their first six shots of the game to take a 9-3 lead with 3:12 gone and still led 12-10 shortly after the second media timeout, but the Wildcats (4-0) went on an 18-2 run over an 8:29 span to build a 14-point lead, 28-14. BJ Shearry snapped the run with a jumper, but 'Nova scored the final two baskets of the period and went into the locker room leading, 32-16.
Twelve of Villanova's 32 first-half points came from the free throw line where they were 12 of 14 in the first 20 minutes of play. Defensively, the Wildcats forced the Highlanders to settle mostly for long jump shots. UCR was 6 of 26 from the floor in the first including 1 of 10 from long distance.
The Highlanders scored the first points of the second half on a pair of Kareem Nitoto free throws, but Villanova connected on 6 of 8 shots to start the period and built a 46-22 lead with 14:59 to go.
Daymond Cowlah hit four consecutive baskets including two three-pointers, as UCR hit 8 of 15 over the first 12-plus minutes of play, cutting the 'Nova advantage to 16 at one point. But the Highlanders cooled off connecting on just 2 of 9 shots the rest of the way while the Wildcats made 48.5 percent of their shots in the second stanza.
Cowlah led UC Riverside with 10 points on the night, four off of his career high of 14 set at Cal State Northridge on January 13, 2011.
Maalik Wayns led four Wildcats in double figures with 22 points while Darrun Hilliard and James Bell added 12 apiece, and Mouphtaou Yarou chipped in with 11.
The Highlanders face Boston College tomorrow at 2 pm PT. The Eagles lost to St. Louis in the first game of the tournament, 62-51.
Day in the Life: Leilani Juan
Monday, May 04
UCR Student-Athletes cheer on our students.
Friday, May 01
UCR Athletics Director Introductory Full Press Conference
Tuesday, March 24
Athletics Director Greg Paules Introductory Presentation Recap
Tuesday, March 24
