Riverside, CA – Hosting UC Santa Barbara (16-5, 5-2) Saturday night, the UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team (5-16, 0-7) battled back from a 15-point first half deficit behind senior guard Chance Murray's first career double-double (18 points, 11 assists). Unfortunately for the Highlanders, the closest they would get in the second half was 4 points, as they eventually fell, 76-69.
KEY RUNS
After a Brandon Rosser triple made it 13-10 in favor of UCSB at the 13:21 mark of the opening half, the Gauchos answered with 14-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, 27-12. Santa Barbara began the game hot from deep, knocking down 5-of-9 (.555) three-pointers out of the gates. The visitors were just 4-of-18 (.222) on threes the rest of the way.
A 9-1 UCR run capped off by an Alec Hickman triple made it 33-26, keeping the home side within striking distance heading into the halftime break.
Five straight points from junior Menno Dijsktra midway through the second half made it 51-47, bringing UCR as close as it had been since the 12:58 mark of the first half.
With UCSB leading 60-55 with under 7 minutes to go, a big step back three by senior Gabe Vincent started a 7-2 Gaucho run, helping put the game on ice.
GAME NOTES
UCR was playing without two of its top three scorers for the year in Dikymbe Martin (13.1 ppg) and Alex Larsson (10.4 ppg), making way for career nights from several other Highlanders.
Chance Murray's (6-14 FG) all-around performance saw him nearly post a triple double with 18 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds. His previous career-high for assists was 7.
Murray also tied a season-high for three-pointers by going 3-of-6 (.500) from beyond the arc, adding 2 steals and playing a game-high 38 minutes.
Backing up Murray on offense was senior Brandon Rosser, who set a new personal-best with 17 points on 6-of-9 (.667) from the field and 2-of-3 (.667) on threes. It was his 5th double-digit scoring game of the season.
Although UCR has struggled with its outside shot for much of the year, the Highlanders outshot their opponent from three-point range (.385 to .333) for the third time in seven Big West games, tying a season-high with 10 three-pointers.
Guard Alec Hickman also set new career-highs across the board with 10 points, 4 rebounds and a block, connecting on 2-of-6 (.333) from deep. The freshman came into the game having made two three-pointers in his first eight appearances this season.
For the second straight game, sophomore Eric Rwahwire posted the second-highest scoring total of his career, finishing with 7 points on an efficient 3-for-5 (.600) shooting night.
UC Riverside equaled UC Santa Barbara's mark from the field, as both team's shot 44.1 percent (26-59 FG). However, the Gauchos had half the Highlanders' turnover total (6 to 12), winning the edge in points off turnovers (14 to 4).
Following Saturday's quick one-game home stand, the Highlanders return to the road for their next two contests, beginning with Cal Poly on Wednesday, January 31.
