Box Score San Luis Obispo, CA—For the second consecutive game, the UC Riverside Men's Basketball team battled back from a 13-point deficit, picking up a 72-68 victory over Cal Poly Thursday evening. Taylor Johns topped the 20-point plateau for the second straight game as well pouring in a game-high 21 points including 13 in the second half.

Cal Poly entered the game as one of the highest scoring teams in the conference—a complete 180 from their modus operandi over the previous six seasons. That increased pace of play was evident in the first half as both teams connected on more than 50 percent of their shots early, before the collective defenses began to take over.

The Mustangs maintained the hot hand for longer, leading by as many as 13 in the first, 23-10. Both teams went cold for a manner of minutes, but the Highlanders woke up first, and closed the half scoring 10 of the last 13 points in the period.

UC Riverside continued to control the game after the break scoring 10 of the first 14 points coming out of intermission, eventually taking their first lead since the opening moments of the contest. That lead grew to as many as five, but Cal Poly regrouped to hold the Highlanders without a field goal for more than four minutes to regain the advantage midway through the second.

The lead changed nine times over the final seven minutes, the last coming with 2:26 on the clock. Brian Bennett, who finished with 21 points for the Mustangs, had just drained a jumper to put Cal Poly up one, 66-64. David Nwaba pushed Steven Jones to the ground as the Highlanders pulled the ball out of the net, and he was whistled for a flagrant foul giving UC Riverside two shots and the ball.

Jaylen Bland hit the two freebies putting the Highlanders back on top, and 10 seconds later, he came off a screen at the top of the key to drain a three-pointer. Ridge Shipley was called for the personal foul, and Bland converted the four-point play to put UCR up 69-64. Cal Poly eventually sliced the lead to one, but Malik Thames made one of two free throws, and Bland made two more to clinch the victory.

Bland finished with 15 as did Secean Johnson, while Nawaba Joined Bennet in double figures for the Mustangs scoring 16.

The Highlanders remain on the road this Saturday when they travel to Cal State Fullerton for a 7 pm PT tip against the Titans. The game is being broadcast nationally on ESPN3.