Box Score Las Vegas, NV—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team hung tough with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels Wednesday evening, leading 50-49 with 7:59 to go, but the Rebels countered with a 7-0 run to regain the lead en route to a 74-62 victory.

The Highlanders employed a zone for most of the first half knowing that UNLV made just two of 15 from long distance in its season opener. The strategy worked early as the Rebels missed their first four three-pointers of the night.

Of concern to UCR in the first was the discrepancy in fouls as the Highlanders were whistled for six of the first seven personals on the night. Alex Larsson was a major contributor early on with four points and three rebounds in the first five minutes, but he was called for two fouls during that time, and had to sit for the remainder of the half.

UCR led throughout the first 10 minutes of play, but Jaylen Poyser made the first three of the evening for UNLV, and that put the Rebels on top 16-13 with eight minutes to go until intermission. That trifecta capped an 8-0 run for UNLV.

The Rebels and Highlanders traded baskets over the next few possessions, but UNLV scored 17 of the final 24 points of the half to take a 37-26 lead into the locker room. Poyser was key to the Rebels' run making three of four from long range to lead all scorers with 11 at the break. Secean Johnson paced UC Riverside with nine first-half points.

Another key to UNLV's success in the first 20 minutes of play was the contributions of their bench. In the Rebels' season-opening loss to South Alabama, the bench accounted for just three of the team's 68 points, but Wednesday, they outscored the Highlanders' reserves 14-6 in the first.

The Rebels extended their lead to 15 early in the second half, but UC Riverside scored seven straight to reduce the lead below double digits, 47-41. The Highlanders continued to confound UNLV on the perimeter forcing the Rebels to miss 16 of 22 three-pointers on the night.

After a pair of free throws by Tyrell Green ended the run, the Highlanders scored six more points to cut the lead to two. 49-47. Freshman Dikymbe Martin then drained a three-pointer to put UC Riverside back on top, 50-49. UNLV countered with a 7-0 run of its own, however, and never trailed the rest of the way.

Larsson did all he could to keep the Highlanders in the game, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds over the final 20 minutes. UNLV's defense clamped on Johnson in the second, though, holding him scoreless in the period

Larsson led UC Riverside with 14 points, and just missed out on a double-double with nine boards.

Poyser paced the Rebels with 20, and Christian Jones chipped in with 13.

The Highlanders return to the Inland Empire this week for a Homecoming 2016 match up against Fresno Pacific on Saturday, November 19 beginning at 4 pm PT.