Saturday, January 19
Riverside, CA
7:05 PM
University of California, Riverside
70
vs
66
Long Beach State
Late Rally Gives Men's Basketball First Conference Win Of Season, 70-66, Over LBSU
1/19/2007 3:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Riverside—Sophomore Sean Cunningham's layup and a free-throw shot to complete the three point play with 47 seconds left capped a last minute comeback in UC Riverside's 70-66 win over Long Beach State at the Student Rec Center Saturday night. Senior Larry Cunningham led UCR (4-12, 1-4 Big West) with 20 points and junior Aaron Scott produced his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Just as they had in Wednesday's tough loss to first place Cal State Northridge, the Highlanders attacked the basket early and often. This game however, the young and improving squad was able to get those shots to fall after they had rolled out against CSUN. The majority of the points on the night we scored from within or just outside the paint.
UCR outscored the 49ers in the paint, 34-26 and also won the rebounding battle, 32-23. Both teams shot well throughout the night as LBSU finished 21-27 (45.7%) and the Highlanders answered that with a 23-47 (48.9%) performance. But the made shots in the final seconds by UCR were the deciding factor.
The first half was made up of tough physical play on both ends as each squad found success in the paint. The Highlanders put up 16 points led by Larry Cunningham's 10 points and junior Christian Soto's seven while LBSU also was able to produce down low, finishing the half with 18 points scored in the paint. Soto also led all rebounders through the first 20 minutes with four boards brought down and also one block.
Neither team was able to pull away from another despite 13-of-26 (50.0%) shooting by the Highlanders and 12-for-27 (44.4%) shooting by LBSU. UCR never led more than two and that came just over three minutes in. The first half had 11 lead changes with the largest advantage coming at the 12:46 held by the 49ers, 16-10. The two teams traded baskets for the rest of the first period and two Larry Cunningham free-throws with 26 seconds left gave UCR the lead, 34-33 at the half.
Each team started the second half by continuing to run the floor as neither team could pull away and they traded baskets before a free-throw by LBSU's Donovan Morris gave the 49ers their largest lead of the game, 56-49 with just under eight minutes to play.
Another series of baskets and a very fast paced game ensued until a Larry Cunningham three cut the Long Beach lead to three, 62-59 with 2:40 on the clock. LBSU called a timeout after the Cunningham three to slow the Highlander attack. Coming out of the timeout though, Long Beach was whistled for having six players on the court. A technical foul was given, resulting in two free-throw makes by Larry Cunningham and the ball awarded to UCR. That technical seemed to ignite the home crowd and also took the momentum from a 49er squad that struggled to put the game away in the final minutes.
The Highlanders traded a couple free-throws with LBSU before Sean Cunningham made his move. Sean drove the length court after a long rebound by Scott, and attacked the basket. He was fouled and as both players went to the floor, the ball went fell through. Sean finished off the play with his made free-throw and gave UCR the lead, 67-65 with 47 seconds remaining.
Sean Cunningham and Larry Cunningham would make the Highlanders final three free-throws to ice the game to give UCR their first Big West victory to the season, 70-66. Sean Cunningham finished with 13 points in support of Larry Cunningham and Scott. Scott was around every loose ball, and his hustled led to the UCR rebounding advantage and provided nine second-chance points for the Highlanders.
UCR returns to the court when they travel to Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday.
Just as they had in Wednesday's tough loss to first place Cal State Northridge, the Highlanders attacked the basket early and often. This game however, the young and improving squad was able to get those shots to fall after they had rolled out against CSUN. The majority of the points on the night we scored from within or just outside the paint.
UCR outscored the 49ers in the paint, 34-26 and also won the rebounding battle, 32-23. Both teams shot well throughout the night as LBSU finished 21-27 (45.7%) and the Highlanders answered that with a 23-47 (48.9%) performance. But the made shots in the final seconds by UCR were the deciding factor.
The first half was made up of tough physical play on both ends as each squad found success in the paint. The Highlanders put up 16 points led by Larry Cunningham's 10 points and junior Christian Soto's seven while LBSU also was able to produce down low, finishing the half with 18 points scored in the paint. Soto also led all rebounders through the first 20 minutes with four boards brought down and also one block.
Neither team was able to pull away from another despite 13-of-26 (50.0%) shooting by the Highlanders and 12-for-27 (44.4%) shooting by LBSU. UCR never led more than two and that came just over three minutes in. The first half had 11 lead changes with the largest advantage coming at the 12:46 held by the 49ers, 16-10. The two teams traded baskets for the rest of the first period and two Larry Cunningham free-throws with 26 seconds left gave UCR the lead, 34-33 at the half.
Each team started the second half by continuing to run the floor as neither team could pull away and they traded baskets before a free-throw by LBSU's Donovan Morris gave the 49ers their largest lead of the game, 56-49 with just under eight minutes to play.
Another series of baskets and a very fast paced game ensued until a Larry Cunningham three cut the Long Beach lead to three, 62-59 with 2:40 on the clock. LBSU called a timeout after the Cunningham three to slow the Highlander attack. Coming out of the timeout though, Long Beach was whistled for having six players on the court. A technical foul was given, resulting in two free-throw makes by Larry Cunningham and the ball awarded to UCR. That technical seemed to ignite the home crowd and also took the momentum from a 49er squad that struggled to put the game away in the final minutes.
The Highlanders traded a couple free-throws with LBSU before Sean Cunningham made his move. Sean drove the length court after a long rebound by Scott, and attacked the basket. He was fouled and as both players went to the floor, the ball went fell through. Sean finished off the play with his made free-throw and gave UCR the lead, 67-65 with 47 seconds remaining.
Sean Cunningham and Larry Cunningham would make the Highlanders final three free-throws to ice the game to give UCR their first Big West victory to the season, 70-66. Sean Cunningham finished with 13 points in support of Larry Cunningham and Scott. Scott was around every loose ball, and his hustled led to the UCR rebounding advantage and provided nine second-chance points for the Highlanders.
UCR returns to the court when they travel to Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday.
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