Davis, CA--The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team erased an eight-point UC Davis' lead Thursday evening, and led by three with under two minutes to go, but the Aggies scored the final six points of the game to escape with a 58-55 victory.

Jaylen Bland's lay up with 2:35 remaining put UCR up 55-52, but those were the last points that the Highlanders would score. Secean Johnson was called for a blocking foul with 1:43 to go, and Josh Fox hit both free throws to close the Aggies to within one. Darius Graham then connected on a three-pointer with under a minute to go to put UC Davis on top by two, 57-55.

The Highlanders thought they had the tying basket with 16 seconds on the clock when Alex Larsson scored on the tip in of his own missed shot. The whistle blew, and the official called a foul against Fox, which had UC Riverside celebrating the "and one" opportunity which could give them the lead. Unfortunately, the official waived off the basket, and since it was on the Aggies third foul of the half, all the Highlanders got for their trouble was the ball out of bounds underneath the basket.

Gentrey Thomas missed a jumper with seven seconds remaining, and Graham made one of two free throws to end the scoring for the night.

The call against Larsson wasn't the only one the Highlanders took issue with down the stretch. Johnson was called for a blocking foul and a charge late in the game, that could have gone either way, and UC Riverside also disputed Taylor Johns' fifth foul, which came with 6:34 to go in the game. Johns was limited to just 15 minutes on the night, scoring eight points and grabbed five rebounds.

The Highlanders' second leading scorer also committed four turnovers, and UC Riverside, as a team, was credited with 20 miscues in the game. Johnson had six, while Larsson, Bland and Thomas each committed three.

Bland led UCR with 12 points, and Thomas added 10 in his first game back in the lineup after missing the previous four with an injury.

Fox finished with 20 on the night, including 14 in the second half, while Graham led all scorers with 21. The Aggies made 13 of 16 free throws despite entering the game as the worst free throw shooting team in the league at just over 60 percent.

The Highlanders return home this weekend where they will host Long Beach State on Saturday, January 23 beginning at 4 pm PT. At halftime, UC Riverside will honor Howard Lee '72 as part of its Bring Back The Past series.de will honor Howard Lee '72 as part of its Bring Back The Past series.