Thursday, March 4
Riverside, CA
University of California, Riverside
72
at
71
Cal State Northridge
Photo by: Phil Ellsworth
Highlanders Defeat Matadors, Earn Tourney Berth
3/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The UC Riverside Highlanders walked in the front door to the Big West Tournament with a thrilling 72-71 overtime win over Cal State Northridge in a very physical game at the Matadome in Northridge Thursday.
UCR is 10-15 overall and 7-10 in the Big West, and Northridge 11-14, 7-10. With the win, they moved into fifth place in conference play, tied with the Matadors. The Highlanders own the tiebreaker over the Matadors.
Vili Morton had a game-high 23 points and had four blocks, including two in the final 10 seconds on Matador forward Thomas Shewmake to seal the win. Kevin Butler had 18 points and Mark Peters had 13. The Highlanders hit 17-of18 free throws.
Shewmake led the Matadors with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Highlanders jumped out to a five-point overtime lead at 70-65 with 2:11 remaining on a pair of free throws by Peters. The Matadors went on a 6-0 run to take a 71-70 lead with :39 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Shewmake. But Butler gave UCR back the lead with a pair of free thows with 19 seconds left, forcing a time out. The Matadors took the inbounds pass and worked it to Shewmake, who was blocked by Morton. Shewmake got the rebound, but was again rejected by Morton and Butler secured the rebound to give UCR the win.
The regulation time ended in spectacular fashion. With UCR leading 63-60, Davin White's long three pointer missed and Nate Carter attempted to volley the rebound out. The ball went straight back to White, who drained the three as the buzzer sounded to tie the game at 63-63.
The first half started strongly for the Highlanders, as UCR built up a seven point lead, going up 18-11 at 7:58, but the Matadors came roaring back, taking advantage of Highlander turnovers to post a 12-1 run over the final 3:39 to take the lead.
Highlanders opened the second half with a 10-3 run, with Morton accounting for six of the points in the run. But Northridge came back with a 7-0 run to take a 37-36 at 16:38 advantage, the lead turning on the second of a pair of fast break buckets by Eto Onyegechea.
The Highlanders face the University of the Pacific on Saturday.
UCR is 10-15 overall and 7-10 in the Big West, and Northridge 11-14, 7-10. With the win, they moved into fifth place in conference play, tied with the Matadors. The Highlanders own the tiebreaker over the Matadors.
Vili Morton had a game-high 23 points and had four blocks, including two in the final 10 seconds on Matador forward Thomas Shewmake to seal the win. Kevin Butler had 18 points and Mark Peters had 13. The Highlanders hit 17-of18 free throws.
Shewmake led the Matadors with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Highlanders jumped out to a five-point overtime lead at 70-65 with 2:11 remaining on a pair of free throws by Peters. The Matadors went on a 6-0 run to take a 71-70 lead with :39 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Shewmake. But Butler gave UCR back the lead with a pair of free thows with 19 seconds left, forcing a time out. The Matadors took the inbounds pass and worked it to Shewmake, who was blocked by Morton. Shewmake got the rebound, but was again rejected by Morton and Butler secured the rebound to give UCR the win.
The regulation time ended in spectacular fashion. With UCR leading 63-60, Davin White's long three pointer missed and Nate Carter attempted to volley the rebound out. The ball went straight back to White, who drained the three as the buzzer sounded to tie the game at 63-63.
The first half started strongly for the Highlanders, as UCR built up a seven point lead, going up 18-11 at 7:58, but the Matadors came roaring back, taking advantage of Highlander turnovers to post a 12-1 run over the final 3:39 to take the lead.
Highlanders opened the second half with a 10-3 run, with Morton accounting for six of the points in the run. But Northridge came back with a 7-0 run to take a 37-36 at 16:38 advantage, the lead turning on the second of a pair of fast break buckets by Eto Onyegechea.
The Highlanders face the University of the Pacific on Saturday.
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Monday, May 04
UCR Student-Athletes cheer on our students.
Friday, May 01
UCR Athletics Director Introductory Full Press Conference
Tuesday, March 24
Athletics Director Greg Paules Introductory Presentation Recap
Tuesday, March 24
