Riverside—UC Riverside's Comeback Kids nearly delivered again Wednesday evening, falling behind by 20 points at home to visiting CSUN before storming back to take the lead with 3:09 remaining, but the Matadors scored the final three points of the game to escape with a 73-71 victory (video highlights).

An Alex Larsson dunk with just over three minutes to go gave the Highlanders (13-12, 4-5) their first lead of the game, 71-70. That basket capped a steady UCR comeback, and had the Matadors on their heels as CSUN (8-14, 3-5) appeared to have the game in hand prior to intermission. Northridge connected on 60 percent of its field goals (15-25) and 50 percent of its three-pointers (5-10) over the first 20 minutes of play, leading by as many as 20 in the first, and 14 at the break.

Jaylen Bland helped keep the Highlanders in the game scoring 12 points in the first thanks to a four-of-five performance from beyond the arc.

UC Riverside turned up its defensive effort coming out of the locker room, and also began to run its offensive more effectively, flipping the script on the Matadors. Bland added 10 more points in the second, as did Secean Johnson, helping the Highlanders to a 57.7 shooting percentage over the final 20 minutes, but Larsson's basket was the last one they would score.

Over the final 3:09, UC Riverside missed three shots and turned the ball over two times. Meanwhile, CSUN's Michael Warren made a layup and was fouled with 2:48 remaining, converting the free throw to put the Matadors up two. Northridge couldn't score the rest of the way either, missing two free throws and committing three miscues, but Warren's points proved to be the difference, as CSUN snapped the Highlanders' three-game winning streak.

Had UCR held on for the win, it would have been the team's fourth straight come-from-behind victory. The Highlanders trailed by 13 against Long Beach State and Cal Poly, and by nine points at Cal State Fullerton during their most recent streak.

UC Riverside remains at home this weekend hosting UC Davis as part of a double header. UC Riverside's Women's Basketball Team tips off at 4 pm PT against the Matadors, while the Highlanders Men's Team takes on the Aggies at 7 pm.