UC Riverside
Montana
Highlanders Home Winning Streak Reaches Six With 58-53 Win Over Montana
12/29/2008 5:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Highlanders remained true to their recent formula of pulling out close games down the stretch. In the first period, neither team led by more than four points and Jack McGillis' three-pointer at the halftime buzzer knotted up the game for the seventh time at 26-26. Kyle Austin continued his hot shooting form Monday's win over Loyola Marymount as he connected on 5 of 10 shots in the period for 10 points. He would finish with a game-high 18.
The score was still tied at 36 apiece with 12:52 to go in the game and a Kyle Sharp layup gave the Grizzlies a one point lead at 38-37 with 10:35 left. It was their last lead of the night however as UCR tried to take control down the stretch. The game looked in hand when Javon Borum's three-pointer gave the Highlanders an eight-point lead with just under four remaining, but Montana cut the lead to four less than a minute later. UCR nailed six free throws down the stretch and 14 of 17 in the second half to seal the victory
Aaron Scott just missed out on a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds while Borum finished with 11 points, nine of which came in the second half
Next up for the Highlanders is a two-time zone trip out west to Hawaii where they take on the Rainbows on December 23. Tip off is schedule for 9:05 pm PT.
NOTES
The Highlanders five turnovers were a season-low and the fewest the team has committed since February 14, 2007 in a 66-61 home loss to UC Irvine.
With the win Thursday over Montana, the Highlanders are now five games over .500 for the first time since the team transitioned to Division I. The last time UCR was six games over .500 was when they were 10-4 midway through the 1998-99 campaign.
The Highlanders were 0-2 against Montana entering Thursday's game.
