UC Riverside
Pacific
Tigers Defeat Highlanders, 95-58
2/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Pacific Tigers used a strong shooting performance to post an 95-58 win over the host UC Riverside Highlanders in a Big West contest in front of 762 fans at the Student Recreation Center in Riverside Saturday.
The Highlanders fell to 3-18 overall and 3-7 in the Big West. Pacific is now 18-6 overall and 8-2 in conference.
The Tigers benefited from balanced scoring, as seven players tallied double figures, led by Michael White and Johnny Gray who each had 14. Anthony Esparza and Mike Webb had 13 for the Tigers, who shot 61.7% (37-of-60) from the field, 46.7% (7-of-15) from the arc and 93.3% (14-of-15) from the free throw line.
UCR had four players in double figures, led by senior guard Rickey Porter's 13 points. Sophomore guard Larry Cunningham had 11 points and senior forwards Steve Williams and David Misko each had 10, with Williams chipping in a game-high six assists. UCR shot 44.0% (22-of-50) from the field, 41.2% (7-of-17) from the three point line and 53.8% (7-of-13) from the free throw line. Turnovers were a big problem for UCR, as they handed the ball over 21 times, leading to 32 points for the Tigers.
The Tigers led 46-30 at the intermission. After failing to make a three-pointer for the first time in 11 years Thursday, the Highlanders hit treys on their first three shots of the night as they jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the first five minutes. However, a 10-2 Tiger run turned that lead into a 14-11 deficit. The Tigers built that margin to 10 at 25-15 with 8:38 left and led by as many as 17 points at 42-25 with 1:06 remaining in the half. Turnovers were the biggest difference, as UCR committed 13 in the first 20 minutes.
The second half saw the Tigers score the first six points as the lead buit to the 20's, finishing with a 37-point margin.
The Highlanders played without junior guard Dedrick Bates, who was lost for the season Thursday against CS Northridge when he tore his anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee on a drive to the basket. Bates had averaged 9.9 points and a team-high 5.1 rebounds per game this season.
Sophomore forward Marcel Montalvan and freshman Christian Yeung made their debuts for UCR in the game, checking in with four minutes to go in the second half.
