San Luis Obispo, CA—In a game of runs, it was the UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team who put together the decisive one, scoring twelve straight points down the stretch in a 67-56 road win over Cal Poly.

The win gives the Highlanders (7-13, 5-4) temporary sole possession of fourth place in the Big West, pending the outcome of several other conference games this evening.

UC Riverside could do little wrong offensively throughout much of the first half, making nine of their first 16 shots from the field en route to a 22-14 lead. The Mustangs misfired on 14 of their first 19 from the floor, and appeared content to launch from three-point range, as 13 of those 19 shots from from long distance.

That all changed with 8:31 on the clock, however, following a pair of Secean Johnson free throws. From that point until the end of the first half, UC Riverside made just one of 11 shots while the Mustangs closed the period making six of 10. The Highlanders went more than six minutes without a point during that stretch, as Cal Poly ended the period on a 14-3 run.

The Highlanders struggles continued at the start of the second half. After scoring the first two points of the half on a pair of Alex Larsson free throws, Cal Poly scored the next seven to extend its advantage to eight, 35-27.

Martin ended the run with a jumper, and UC Riverside seven-footer Menno Dijkstra tied the score with a pair of three-pointers from the top of the key. Following the media time out, Brandon Rosser got into the three-point act, draining one from the left corner to put the Highlanders back on top.

The scoring drought continued for the Mustangs as UC Riverside's run reached 17-0, forcing Cal Poly Head Coach Joe Callero to call timeout with 13:35 to go, and the Highlanders leading, 44-35.

Victor Joseph's lay up with 12:40 remaining ended the streak, and the Mustangs began to claw their way back into the game. They got to within one, 54-53, with with 3:44 to go, but that was when UC Riverside countered with its game-ending run.

Martin scored eight of the teams final 13 points including six from the charity stripe to nail down the win.

The Highlanders return home this week for a Thursday, February 9 meeting with Long Beach State. Tip is scheduled for 7 pm PT.