Wednesday, March 12
Anaheim, CA
8:20 PM
University of California, Riverside
62
vs
54
Cal Poly (First Round)
Men's Basketball Upends Cal Poly In First Round Of Big West Conference Tournament
3/12/2008 3:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Anaheim, CA—UC Riverside picked up their second ever post-season win with a 62-54 victory over Cal Poly in Wednesday's first-round match-up of the Big West Conference Tournament in Anaheim, CA. Senior Larry Cunningham led all scorers with 23 points as the Highlanders (9-20) advance to the quarterfinal round and face #3 seed Cal State Fullerton Thursday night.
The Highlanders used their defense to pick up the progam's first post-season win since beating Cal Poly in the 2003-04 conference tournament. UCR held the Mustangs (12-18) to a season-low 28.8 % shooting and only 17 first-half points.
UCR made their shots when it counted as seven different players recorded baskets and each seemed to come at time when Cal Poly was set to make a run.
Riverside led throughout, building a 11-4 lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the first-half. They would go on to open up leads as large as ten, 18-8 after sophomore Sean Cunningham's layup at the 4:13 mark. The Mustangs broke out of their shooting skid with a 9-2 run to close out the half and cut the Highlander lead to 20-17 at the break.
Cal Poly opened the second half with a three to tie the game at 20-20. Each team would trade baskets over the next seven minutes before Larry Cunningham's jumper from the right wing, gave UCR a 32-30 lead at the 12:27 mark. The Mustangs answered again with a Shawn Lewis jumper but back-to-back baskets by junior Cleavon Barlow and junior Severin Gates put UCR up 39-34 with 9:47 remaining.
UCR continued to force the Mustangs into tough shots and held off some late Cal Poly runs to pick up the post-season victory. The game was iced with free-throws as freshman Jalonni Diggs stepped up by knocking down five of six free-throws in the final minutes and Larry Cunningham made his final three attempts from the line for the Highlanders.
Barlow led all rebounders with 14 boards as UCR out-rebounded Cal Poly 44-37. Junior Aaron Scott added 11 points and eight boards.
The Highlanders come back to play #3 seed Cal State Fullerton tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m.
The Highlanders used their defense to pick up the progam's first post-season win since beating Cal Poly in the 2003-04 conference tournament. UCR held the Mustangs (12-18) to a season-low 28.8 % shooting and only 17 first-half points.
UCR made their shots when it counted as seven different players recorded baskets and each seemed to come at time when Cal Poly was set to make a run.
Riverside led throughout, building a 11-4 lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the first-half. They would go on to open up leads as large as ten, 18-8 after sophomore Sean Cunningham's layup at the 4:13 mark. The Mustangs broke out of their shooting skid with a 9-2 run to close out the half and cut the Highlander lead to 20-17 at the break.
Cal Poly opened the second half with a three to tie the game at 20-20. Each team would trade baskets over the next seven minutes before Larry Cunningham's jumper from the right wing, gave UCR a 32-30 lead at the 12:27 mark. The Mustangs answered again with a Shawn Lewis jumper but back-to-back baskets by junior Cleavon Barlow and junior Severin Gates put UCR up 39-34 with 9:47 remaining.
UCR continued to force the Mustangs into tough shots and held off some late Cal Poly runs to pick up the post-season victory. The game was iced with free-throws as freshman Jalonni Diggs stepped up by knocking down five of six free-throws in the final minutes and Larry Cunningham made his final three attempts from the line for the Highlanders.
Barlow led all rebounders with 14 boards as UCR out-rebounded Cal Poly 44-37. Junior Aaron Scott added 11 points and eight boards.
The Highlanders come back to play #3 seed Cal State Fullerton tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m.
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UCR Athletics Director Introductory Full Press Conference
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